File:Skydiving 4 way.jpg 4-way FS (Formation Skydiving) File:Skydive runaway.jpg Breaking off from a formation before parachute deployment. File:DC-3 loading; plus dirt diving.jpg DC-3 loading; plus 'dirt diving'; 1977Formation skydiving is a skydiving event where multiple skydivers attach themselves to one another by grabbing each other's limbs or by the use of "grippers" on their jumpsuit while free falling through the sky. The goal of this skydiving program is to build a formation of multiple divers arranged in a geometric pattern.
Formation skydiving can be further divided into several sub-categories, so named for the number of members in a team:
4-way sequential
4-way vertical sequential (VFS, Vertical Formation Skydiving)
8-way sequential
16-way sequential
10-way speed
Large formations (Big-ways) A competition in 4-way formation skydiving (FS-4) takes place like this:
There are two kinds of formations, called randoms and blocks. The randoms are singular formations with full separation of all grips both before and after building the formation. The blocks are double formations with a special designated movement pattern in between, called an inter. The start formation may, or may not be similar to the ending formation. The inters are differently performed. Here are some examples:
Inter 1: The grips are released between some of the flyers, so they become two pieces of two team members. they both do a 270 degree turn, and reconnect to a different formation
Inter 2: Three people stay connected, and do a 360 turn, while the last person, flies alone.
Inter 15: All grips are released and everyone does a 360 turn back to the original formation.
Blocks are designated by numbers, while randoms got letters. Blocks are worth one point for each correct formation, that makes 2 points, and randoms count as 1 point. There are 22 blocks and 16 randoms.
competition consists of up to 10 rounds, and each round consists of 5 or 6 points, which the teams are to repeat as many times as they can within the working time of 35 seconds. The score judging are based on the videographers material.
A competition draw may look like this:
1: C-E-B-13
2: 14-20-8
3: 15-16-H
4: J-O-1-D
5: 6-18-19
6: 5-F-21
7: 10-K-G-M
8: 22-3-P
9: 12-9-4
10:11-17-Q The winning team will be the team that has collected most points, by completing the most correct formations within time after the final round is ended. In case of weather or technical problems, or other causes, a competition will be valid as long as all teams has completed at least one round.
A recent sub-category of formation skydiving is vertical formation skydiving (VFS). Skydivers build formations using higher-speed body positions normally associated with freeflying , such as head down and sitflying.
The current FAI world record for largest free-fall formation is a 400-way,[ 1] Udon Thani , Thailand by the World Team.[ 2] C-130 Hercules airplanes and exited from an altitude of 25,400 feet.[ 3] [ 4]
Longest sequence in one round:
Set by the Belgian team(NMP-PCH Hayabusa), at the World Meet 2018 in round 6, where they posted 62 points in working time (35 seconds)
Set by the U.S. (GKXP8) national team, at the World Meet 2024 , in round 9, where they posted 37 points in working time (50 seconds)
Year
Venue
Airplane
4-Way Champion
Points (avg)
8-Way Champion
Points (avg)
4-Way Female Champion
Points (avg)
4-Way Vertical Formation
Points (avg)
1975
Germany West Germany Warendorf
United States 40/49.92*
United States 100/163.85*
Not Held
Not Held
1977
Australia Australia Gatton, Queensland
Canada 73 (7.3)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Germany West Germany File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 42 (4.2)
Not Held
Not Held
1979
France France Châteauroux
Canada 82 (8.2)
United States 66 (6.6)
Not Held
Not Held
1981
United States United States Zephyrhills, Florida
United States 116 (11.6)
United States 83 (8.3)
Not Held
Not Held
1983
South Africa South Africa Sun City, North West
Switzerland 115 (11.5)
United States 102 (10.2)
Not Held
Not Held
1985
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia Mali Lošinj
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Canada File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 118 (11.8)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Canada 120 (12.0)
Not Held
Not Held
1987
Brazil Brazil Foz do Iguacu
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Austria 134 (13.4)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Soviet Union 119 (13.2) (9 rd)
Not Held
Not Held
1989
Spain Spain Gerona
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Soviet Union File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg United States 152 (15.2)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Soviet Union File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 138 (13.8)
Not Held
Not Held
1991
Czech Republic Czechoslovakia Lučenec
Mil Mi-8
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Italy 171 (17.1)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Soviet Union 181 (18.1)
Not Held
Not Held
1993
United States Eloy, Arizona
DHC-6 Twin Otter
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Denmark 195 (19.5)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 169 (16.9)
Not Held
Not Held
1995
France Gap, Hautes-Alpes
Pilatus PC-6 Porter
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Denmark 207 (20.7)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 195 (19.5)
Not Held
Not Held
1997
Turkey Turkey Efes
CASA C-212 Aviocar
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg South Africa 210 (21.0)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Russia File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 224 (22.4)
Not Held
Not Held
1999
Australia Corowa
DHC-6 Twin Otter
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Norway 208 (20.8)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Russia File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 211 (21.1)
Not Held
Not Held
2001
Spain Granada
CASA C-212 Aviocar
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Norway 214 (21.4)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg Russia File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 193 (19.3)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Norway File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Sweden 147 (14.7)
Not Held
2003
France Gap, Hautes-Alpes
Pilatus PC-6 Porter
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Norway 229 (22.9)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg Russia File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 221 (20.9) (11 rd)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United Kingdom Great Britain File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Norway File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg United States 165 (16.5)
Not Held
2004
Croatia Croatia Rijeka
Mil Mi-8
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 227 (22.7)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 172 (19.1) (9 rd)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 169 (16.9)
Not Held
2006
Germany Gera
DHC-6 Twin Otter
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Italy 117 (23.4) (5 rd)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 123 (20.5) (6 rd)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United Kingdom Great Britain File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 95 (19.0) (5 rd)
Not Held
2008
France Maubeuge
Pilatus PC-6 Porter
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Belgium 195 (24.4) (8 rd)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Italy 151 (21.6) (7 rd)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United Kingdom Great Britain File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 120 (20.0) (6 rd)
Not Held
2010
Russia Menzelinsk
L-410 Turbolet
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 277 (27.7)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 203 (20.3)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United Kingdom Great Britain File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg United States 236 (23.6)
Not Held
2012
United Arab Emirates UAE Dubai
DHC-6 Twin Otter
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Belgium File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 279 (27.9)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 229 (22.9)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Norway 207 (20.7)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United Arab Emirates File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg United States 185 (23,1) (8 rd)
2014
Czech Republic Czech Republic Prostějov
L-410 Turbolet
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg Belgium File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Canada 264 (26.4)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Russia File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 216 (21.6)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg United Kingdom 214 (21.4)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Canada 179 (22,4) (8 rd)
2016
United States Chicago
DHC-6 Twin Otter
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg Belgium File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 262 (26.2)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Russia 239 (23.9)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg United Kingdom 224 (22.4)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Canada File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg United States 168 (22.4) (8 rd)
2018
Australia Gold Coast, Queensland
Cessna 208 Caravan
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg Belgium File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France 279 (27.9)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Russia File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Qatar 224 (22,4)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg France File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United Kingdom File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Sweden 257 (25,7)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Canada File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Australia 217 (21,7)
2020
Russia Kemerovo region
L-410 Turbolet
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg Belgium File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Qatar 193 (32,2) (6 rd)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg File:Flag placeholder.svg RPF
166 (23,7) (7 rd)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg File:Flag placeholder.svg RPF File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Poland 150 (25,0) (6 rd)
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg File:Flag placeholder.svg RPF File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Italy 143 (20,4) (7 rd)
2022
United States Eloy, Arizona
DHC-6 Twin Otter
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Belgium File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Qatar 261
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Qatar File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Germany 205
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United Kingdom File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg United States 200
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Australia File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Norway 212
2024
United States Crystal Coast , North Carolina
DHC-6 Twin Otter
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg France File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Qatar
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Qatar File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Germany
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg China File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg France
File:Gold medal world centered-2.svg United States File:Silver medal world centered-2.svg Norway File:Bronze medal world centered-2.svg Italy
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