Thai-divers In Record Attempt

[george]

Thai-divers in record attempt

BANGKOK: -- 960 skydivers in Thailand have attempted to break a new record for the highest number of people taking part in one jump.

The participants parachuted through the skies on the outskirts of Bangkok, with the hopes of beating the old record of 672 skydivers jumping together.

960 was chosen to honour the 60-year reign of King Bhumipol Adulyadej as he is the 9th King of his dynasty.

31 different nationalities took part in the jump and they came down over the site of the Suvarnabhumi airport.

At least one jumper was reported injured.

After the jump, skydiver Mary Tortomasi said that despite the large number of participants, there had still been enough space to enjoy the jump.

Earlier this week, members of a skydiving group called the World Team attempted to break the record for a mid-air freefall formation.

400 parachutists joined hands over the northern city of Udon Thani during their jump.

--channel4.com 2006-02-11

[george]

MASS PARACHUTE JUMP

Skydivers break world record

Achievement honours the 60th anniversary of His Majesty’s accession

BANGKOK: -- The sky over Suvarnabhumi International Airport was filled with parachutes yesterday as the Royal Thai Air Force and the international skydiving group World Team set the Guinness World Record for the largest mass jump.

A fleet of RTAF aircraft dropped 960 parachutists to shatter the previous record of 672 set by World Team and Thai military skydivers in 2004.

The 450 members of World Team, representing 30 countries, and 510 skydivers from the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Police, jumped at 2,000 metres from 11 aircraft including seven RTAF Hercules C130s and one C130 provided by the Singapore Armed Forces.

For more than 10 minutes, participants drifted down over the airport under their colourful canopies with one Thai parachutist flying an enormous Thai flag behind him, while another carried a banner with “Long Live The King”.

The mass jump was the final event of the Royal Sky Celebration, which was staged to celebrate His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary on the throne. This success comes only days after World Team set a record for the world’s first 400-person free-fall formation in Udon Thani.

“While all of Thailand is honouring His Majesty at this time, this is a great opportunity to include the rest of the world in the celebrations,” World Team organiser Larry Henderson said.

Thousands of spectators lined the road outside the airport to watch and tents inside the grounds hosted civilian and military dignitaries and guests.

Spectators were also treated to an air show involving fly-pasts and manoeuvres by an F-16 fighter jet, a PC9 training craft, and three low-flying planes that trailed smoke in the colours of the Thai flag.

--The nation 2006-02-12

MASS PARACHUTE JUMP

Skydivers break world record

Achievement honours the 60th anniversary of His Majesty’s accession

BANGKOK: -- The sky over Suvarnabhumi International Airport was filled with parachutes yesterday as the Royal Thai Air Force and the international skydiving group World Team set the Guinness World Record for the largest mass jump.

A fleet of RTAF aircraft dropped 960 parachutists to shatter the previous record of 672 set by World Team and Thai military skydivers in 2004.

The 450 members of World Team, representing 30 countries, and 510 skydivers from the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Police, jumped at 2,000 metres from 11 aircraft including seven RTAF Hercules C130s and one C130 provided by the Singapore Armed Forces.

For more than 10 minutes, participants drifted down over the airport under their colourful canopies with one Thai parachutist flying an enormous Thai flag behind him, while another carried a banner with “Long Live The King”.

The mass jump was the final event of the Royal Sky Celebration, which was staged to celebrate His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary on the throne. This success comes only days after World Team set a record for the world’s first 400-person free-fall formation in Udon Thani.

“While all of Thailand is honouring His Majesty at this time, this is a great opportunity to include the rest of the world in the celebrations,” World Team organiser Larry Henderson said.

Thousands of spectators lined the road outside the airport to watch and tents inside the grounds hosted civilian and military dignitaries and guests.

Spectators were also treated to an air show involving fly-pasts and manoeuvres by an F-16 fighter jet, a PC9 training craft, and three low-flying planes that trailed smoke in the colours of the Thai flag.

--The nation 2006-02-12

[george]

MASS PARACHUTE JUMP

Skydivers break world record

Achievement honours the 60th anniversary of His Majesty’s accession

BANGKOK: -- The sky over Suvarnabhumi International Airport was filled with parachutes yesterday as the Royal Thai Air Force and the international skydiving group World Team set the Guinness World Record for the largest mass jump.

A fleet of RTAF aircraft dropped 960 parachutists to shatter the previous record of 672 set by World Team and Thai military skydivers in 2004.

The 450 members of World Team, representing 30 countries, and 510 skydivers from the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Police, jumped at 2,000 metres from 11 aircraft including seven RTAF Hercules C130s and one C130 provided by the Singapore Armed Forces.

For more than 10 minutes, participants drifted down over the airport under their colourful canopies with one Thai parachutist flying an enormous Thai flag behind him, while another carried a banner with “Long Live The King”.

The mass jump was the final event of the Royal Sky Celebration, which was staged to celebrate His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary on the throne. This success comes only days after World Team set a record for the world’s first 400-person free-fall formation in Udon Thani.

“While all of Thailand is honouring His Majesty at this time, this is a great opportunity to include the rest of the world in the celebrations,” World Team organiser Larry Henderson said.

Thousands of spectators lined the road outside the airport to watch and tents inside the grounds hosted civilian and military dignitaries and guests.

Spectators were also treated to an air show involving fly-pasts and manoeuvres by an F-16 fighter jet, a PC9 training craft, and three low-flying planes that trailed smoke in the colours of the Thai flag.

--The nation 2006-02-12