ParaMag - n°324 - Mai 2014 - B14

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WORLD TEAM BONUS
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and World Team's leaders once again set
out to recruit the top skydivers of the world.
Returning after five years, the World
Team skydivers quickly readjusted to the
Thai lifestyle and culture. The new venue
was in Korat, an RTAF air base north of
Bangkok. As before, the pilots and their
fleet of C-130's were well prepared,
but the air speeds were noticeably
higher. A new protective body position
was agreed upon for exiting - but not
before several shoulders were dislocated
by collisions just off the ramp.
The prep dives from the solo Hercs
progressed smoothly, with 100-way after
100-way dropping from the sky.
The record attempts started strong and
the formation size was soon approaching
300. However, due to some technical
issues, the pace of jumping slowed
down. Then, a fierce rain storm sat on
top of Korat for five days, resulting in
many fewer jumps than planned. Once
again, World Team found itself near the
end of an event with no world record.
On the last day, the sky was totally
overcast in Korat. It was also cloudy at
every other air base in Thailand, but one
- where it would be overcast by noon.
The Takhli air base was located near the
Myanmar border - 90 minutes away by
Herc. AVM Bunchuay phoned the RTAF
Commander in Chief, who asked
Bunchuay to make the big decision.
Trial by fire. The easy and career-prudent
decision would be to avoid chasing blue
holes in the sky with multiple Hercs.
AVM Bunchuay knew the record could
happen on any jump, but he also knew
there were no guarantees. After some intense
consideration, the Air Vice Marshal
directed all the C-130's to go to Takhli.
Word Team landed briefly at their new DZ
to check-out the landing area, then made
a quick dirt dive and took off as the
clouds were closing in. Something unexplained
happened on jump-run,
so the four Hercs did a go-round in loose
formation. As the aircraft circled, the
storm clouds made a beautiful backdrop,
which every photographer captured
from their respective tailgates.
The jump was one of those special
dives... The formation flew quietly from
the start, with everyone approaching on
their designated radials. Suddenly, it was
a complete 357-way and time stood still.
World Team fulfilled its goal, Thailand re400-way
world record in Thailand - 2006.
Photo Willy Boeykens
claimed the FAI large formation world
record, and AVM Bunchuay earned a
third star on his shoulder for his astute
decision making skills.
World Team' 06.
Udon Thani,
Thaïland.
2006 marked the 50th anniversary of His
Majesty becoming the King of Thailand.
The Thai people love their King, the
RTAF love to celebrate royal occasions
with bigger-than-life skydiving events,
and World Team loves the Thai King,
47
World Team at the Land of Smiles.
Photo Hans Berggren
WORLD TEAM BONUS
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ParaMag - n°324 - Mai 2014

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