From Enjoyable Jumps to 5 Wingsuit Formation Records

An experiment in a brand new FAI wingsuit self-discipline developed into 5 official formation information. Michał Brosig takes us behind the planning, teamwork and technical challenges that made it attainable.

Some information start with a transparent plan and a objective that everybody is aware of from the beginning. This one started far more merely, with an concept throughout just a few enjoyable jumps.

A 12 months earlier than the report occasion, throughout a boogie at Skydive Balaton in Hungary, I steered that we attempt the newly launched FAI Vertical Wingsuit Formation format. The idea sounded easy: each flyer would have an assigned slot in a three-dimensional formation and would wish to carry that place with precision, with out drifting or uncontrolled motion.

At first, I used to be unsure if individuals would discover it attention-grabbing. Wingsuit pilots normally get pleasure from motion: carving, diving, flocking and flying dynamic strains collectively. Asking skilled flyers to remain in a set place may have appeared too static. But after the primary try, the response was utterly completely different. Holding a exact slot turned out to be technically demanding, mentally partaking and surprisingly enjoyable.

After just a few jumps, it was apparent that this was extra than simply an experiment. It was one thing value creating into an official report challenge.

From June 21 to 25, 2026, twenty-six of us gathered once more at Skydive Balaton in Siófok, close to Lake Balaton, to try official FAI wingsuit formation information. The workforce consisted of 25 wingsuit flyers and one digital camera flyer, whose video would later be utilized by the judges. Participants got here from 9 European international locations, together with 10 Polish flyers. The challenge was organized by Poles: I used to be the primary organizer, and Michał Migała was each co-organizer and digital camera flyer.

By the top of the occasion, we had accomplished 13 jumps: 4 coaching jumps, three Vertical report jumps and 6 Sequential report makes an attempt. The outcome was 5 official information: 23-way, 24-way and 25-way Vertical Wingsuit Formation European Records, plus a 25-way Sequential Wingsuit Formation European Record and World Record.

But the largest objective of the week was one many of the workforce didn’t learn about after they arrived.

A New Type of Record

Vertical and Sequential Wingsuit Formation information are nonetheless very younger classes. They had been added to the FAI guidelines in 2024. Similar formations had been flown earlier than at drop zones and boogies, however flying them as official information is a really completely different problem.

In an off-the-cuff wingsuit flock, a formation might be adequate if persons are shut, steady and flying collectively. For a report, “good enough” will not be sufficient. The formation have to be clearly outlined, every slot have to be occupied appropriately and the general form have to be clear sufficient for the judges to approve.

The Sequential class provides one other degree of complexity. The workforce should construct one formation, then transition in flight and construct a second one throughout the identical skydive. That means each flyer must know not solely the place they begin, but additionally the place they’re going and the way their motion impacts the individuals round them.

This made the challenge far more than merely gathering a bunch of sturdy wingsuit pilots. We needed to perceive the FAI guidelines, put together the formations appropriately, doc the makes an attempt correctly and ensure the judges had every little thing they wanted to judge the jumps. For most enjoyable jumpers, the FAI General Section and Section 5 aren’t common studying. For me, they turned among the most essential paperwork of the challenge.

Building the Team and the Plan

The workforce got here collectively naturally. The core group was made up of flyers who had examined the vertical format with us the 12 months earlier than. They already understood the concept and the model of flying we wanted. From there, we added just a few extra skilled pilots to succeed in the 25-way formation I had been imagining.

The problem was not solely to seek out expert flyers. We wanted individuals who had been keen to adapt to a exact and comparatively new format. This was not a typical wingsuit bigway camp. Everyone needed to settle for that the objective was not simply to get near the group, however to fly a precise slot with self-discipline.

Planning the formations turned a challenge by itself. Existing instruments had been probably not designed for what we needed to do, particularly for Sequential Vertical Wingsuit Formations. I wanted a strategy to design the formations, assign slots, plan transitions and assist each participant visualize their function.

So I wrote a devoted utility for the challenge. It allowed me to organize the formations and the actions between them, then share screenshots and brief movies with the workforce. On the bottom, we additionally used a easy mock-up to stroll by means of the formations and transitions earlier than taking them into the sky.

For a formation of this measurement, that preparation was important. Once you exit the plane, there’s little or no time to assume by means of an issue. The actual work has to occur earlier than the bounce.

Why Balaton Worked

Skydive Balaton was the pure location for the challenge. The drop zone had already hosted our first checks the 12 months earlier than, so it felt proper to return to the identical place the place the concept started.

It additionally had the infrastructure we wanted: hangars, house, useful employees and, most significantly, a Mi-8 helicopter. The Mi-8 was a game-changer as a result of it allowed all 26 individuals, 25 formation flyers plus the digital camera flyer, to go up collectively in a single raise.

The reserved airspace was simply as essential. For a wingsuit formation of this measurement, particularly one flying lengthy straight strains towards Lake Balaton, clear airspace and predictable bounce runs made the entire challenge a lot simpler and safer to handle.

Three Jumps, Three European Records

We started with 4 coaching jumps in smaller formations whereas ready for everybody to reach and settle in. These jumps gave us time to regulate speeds, tune the bottom and let the group get used to flying collectively.

Then got here the primary official report try: a 23-way Vertical Wingsuit Formation. It labored and have become a European Record. On the following bounce, we elevated the formation to 24 flyers. That additionally labored.

On the third report bounce, we tried the primary objective of the occasion: the 25-way Vertical Wingsuit Formation European Record. It was accepted as nicely. Three official makes an attempt. Three profitable jumps. Three European Records in a row.

By the top of the primary day, we had already achieved the primary goal of the occasion. There had been some regular logistical issues: delayed flights, misplaced baggage and the standard problems that include bringing individuals from a number of international locations collectively. But within the sky, every little thing had gone virtually completely.

For many of the workforce, that might have been the top of the story. But I had one other plan prepared.

The Hidden Goal

For greater than six months, I had been quietly making ready a Sequential World Record try. I didn’t need to announce it too early as a result of the 25-way Vertical European Record was already a severe objective. I needed everybody to deal with that first.

The Sequential plan was to construct two formations in a single skydive. First, the workforce would create a sq.. Then, greater than 20 flyers would transfer to new positions and rebuild the group right into a diamond.

Every slot had been deliberate. Every transition had been designed. The visible supplies had been prepared. The idea was prepared. I used to be simply ready for the suitable second.

After the profitable 25-way Vertical report, I informed the workforce. The humorous half was that not everybody was totally certain what the Sequential class really required. In a manner, that confirmed precisely why the try mattered. We had been working in a brand new space of the game, and the principles had been nonetheless unfamiliar even to skilled flyers.

The Hard Part

The Sequential makes an attempt shortly proved to be far more tough than the Vertical information. Building the primary formation, the sq., was not the primary problem. The actual problem was the transition. More than 20 individuals needed to go away their unique slots, transfer by means of the sky, keep away from creating chaos after which arrive in a brand new formation.

For a second throughout every transition, the clear geometry disappeared. References modified, distances shifted and each flyer needed to make fast selections whereas nonetheless flying safely and exactly. The second formation, the diamond, required a recent degree of management as a result of individuals had been arriving there after motion, not from a clear method.

The first makes an attempt had been removed from excellent. But every bounce taught us one thing. We modified particulars, improved the briefing and clarified particular person roles. Slowly, the diamond began to look extra just like the formation we had deliberate.

At one level, we lastly constructed the diamond and thought we would have the report. Then the judges rejected the bounce. The downside was not the second formation. It was the primary one, which was not accepted as symmetrical sufficient. That was a tough second. We knew we had been shut, however the day ended with out the Sequential report.

The Decision

The subsequent morning, we began with an extended and extra detailed briefing. This time, the objective was no more motivation. Everyone was already motivated. What we wanted was readability.

We went by means of the formations once more, mentioned the transition, reviewed weak factors and made certain everybody understood not solely the place to fly, however why their function mattered. After two extra jumps, the video seemed promising and was despatched to the judges. Then got here the toughest half: ready.

As the organizer, I didn’t actually permit myself to have a good time early. Even when a formation appears stunning on video, it isn’t a report till the judges affirm it. During the occasion, my thoughts was all the time on the following correction, the following briefing, the following try. A report solely exists when the judges say it does.

When the affirmation lastly got here, the stress become pleasure. The Sequential bounce had been accepted as each a European Record and a World Record. From that second on, we may name ourselves World Record Holders.

What It Meant

Looking again, flying was not the one problem. The more durable half was constructing a challenge from scratch: studying the principles, creating planning instruments, organizing the workforce, selecting the best location, managing uncertainty and protecting everybody targeted.

The information can be written down as numbers: 23-way, 24-way, 25-way, Sequential 25-way. But for me, crucial half is what occurred behind these numbers.

An concept examined throughout enjoyable jumps turned an official FAI report challenge. A brand new wingsuit class turned one thing we may fly with precision. And a workforce of 26 individuals from 9 international locations got here collectively over Lake Balaton to show that this format has a future.

Some information are organized and chased from the start. This one began in another way. This one began with a query. Then it turned a secret plan. And lastly, over Lake Balaton, it turned a World Record.

Record holders:

Michał Drożdż (Organizer), Michał Migała (Co-organizer, Videographer), Julia Végure (Base), Alexandra Kraft, Andra Kühne, Cristina Muñoz Paton, David Winczewski, Edgars Vaigurs, Florian Kaschuba, Jakub Juszczak, Jakub Mijakowski, Massimo Lavarini, Oleksandr Nemrish, Pauline Raviaud, Przemysław Tomasello, Piotr Walisiak, Reto Nyffenegger, Ričards Barzinskis, Sebastian Senft, Serhii Serdiuk, Stefan Gilbert, Stefan Kucel, Tobias Uhlig, Tomasz Nowicki, Wiktor Ulman, Zbigniew Izbicki

At the time of publication, all information talked about on this article are pending official ratification.