Skydivers planning second world record in Thailand

Some 400 skydivers seen here breaking a world record over northern Thailand 08 February 2005, are gearing up for a second attempt involving about 960 jumpers over Bangkok on Saturday

BANGKOK (AFP) - Some 400 skydivers who broke a world record over northern Thailand this week are gearing up for a second attempt involving about 960 jumpers over Bangkok on Saturday, a representative said.

The 400 skydivers from 32 countries on Wednesday set a new record for the largest connected formation skydive when they made a giant snowflake wearing suits in the colours of the Thai flag -- blue, white and red.

And on Saturday, the skies over Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi international airport will be filled with 960 parachutes as they attempt the world's largest mass free fall jump, said spokesman Patrick Passe.

The records are among the many events planned across Thailand throughout 2006 marking the 60th anniversary of the coronation of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Passe told AFP.

In Wednesday's feat, the jumpers succeeded on their eighth attempt, having sucked on oxygen while inside five C-130 Hercules aircraft before leaping out at 25,000 feet (7,620 metres) and holding the pattern for 4.25 seconds.

"It's very exciting and certainly one of the most difficult records to do because we had to jump so high," said Passe, a French professional skydiver with 13,000 jumps to his name.

"We needed oxygen, and in the separation of the formation, 400 people had to move away to open their chutes safely ... and all land safely in the same airport," the 48-year-old said.

An earlier formation featured 399 jumpers, but judges ruled one person was missing, so the teams boarded the aircraft again for their late afternoon attempt, which included a two-minute free fall.

While the jumpers could "feel the record is there", Passe said, they waited an agonising hour while judges again checked video footage to ensure every person was in the right position before the celebrations could begin.

Skydivers planning second world record in Thailand

Some 400 skydivers seen here breaking a world record over northern Thailand 08 February 2005, are gearing up for a second attempt involving about 960 jumpers over Bangkok on Saturday

BANGKOK (AFP) - Some 400 skydivers who broke a world record over northern Thailand this week are gearing up for a second attempt involving about 960 jumpers over Bangkok on Saturday, a representative said.

The 400 skydivers from 32 countries on Wednesday set a new record for the largest connected formation skydive when they made a giant snowflake wearing suits in the colours of the Thai flag -- blue, white and red.

And on Saturday, the skies over Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi international airport will be filled with 960 parachutes as they attempt the world's largest mass free fall jump, said spokesman Patrick Passe.

The records are among the many events planned across Thailand throughout 2006 marking the 60th anniversary of the coronation of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Passe told AFP.

In Wednesday's feat, the jumpers succeeded on their eighth attempt, having sucked on oxygen while inside five C-130 Hercules aircraft before leaping out at 25,000 feet (7,620 metres) and holding the pattern for 4.25 seconds.

"It's very exciting and certainly one of the most difficult records to do because we had to jump so high," said Passe, a French professional skydiver with 13,000 jumps to his name.

"We needed oxygen, and in the separation of the formation, 400 people had to move away to open their chutes safely ... and all land safely in the same airport," the 48-year-old said.

An earlier formation featured 399 jumpers, but judges ruled one person was missing, so the teams boarded the aircraft again for their late afternoon attempt, which included a two-minute free fall.

While the jumpers could "feel the record is there", Passe said, they waited an agonising hour while judges again checked video footage to ensure every person was in the right position before the celebrations could begin.

Strange Toxin has not called Thailand the HUB of skydiving