Cadets break free falling record - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

Cadets break free falling record

Gripping limbs and jumpsuits, 39 Air Force Academy cadets broke the collegiate world record for most skydivers free falling in formation.

The academy’s Wings of Blue skydiving team jumped from three different UV-18 Twin Otter planes and linked up for 10 seconds.

The March 31 jump broke the previous collegiate record of 35 jumpers, also set by Wings of Blue, in 2000.

“It was really draining,” said Ryan Regan, a senior cadet. “But once we completed the formation, everyone basically started celebrating in free fall as much as possible.”

The cadets jumped from 17,500 feet out of 98th Flying Training Squadron planes, which took off from Arizona’s Gila Bend Auxiliary Air Field.

Achieving the record-setting formation required perfect maneuvering from every jumper. To reach the other cadets, skydivers had to either point their head to the earth — quickening their descent — or flatten out to catch more wind and slow down.

They nailed it on their 10th attempt.

“We’ve been looking at the old record for years now,” Regan said. “It was a great feeling of accomplishment.”

The Wings of Blue are trained by Maj. John Peschio, a veteran skydiver who participated in the world’s largest-ever formation, a noncollegiate endeavor.

That 2006 jump — over Udon Thani, Thailand — linked up 400 skydivers representing 31 nations.