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The first weekend on the Langar Boogie and a good weather forecast was the setting
for this year's POPS big way record attempt. At 8:30 on the 9th of September, a group of
thirty three POPS gathered for the initial briefing and allocation of slots and planes.
The first jumps were 33-ways from the Shorts Skyvan and Cessna Caravan and were
looking good but with a few minor problems. For jumps three and four we split into
two groups to tighten up on some aspects, but with both groups using both planes.
The fifth jump on Saturday saw the 33-way back together and this time it went like
a dream. Everyone flew smoothly into their slots and docked for a seven second hold
of the new 33 way POPS record.
After the euphoria and partying on Saturday night, it was perhaps surprising that
there were now 36 POPS waiting for the mist to clear at 9:00 on Sunday morning. This
time we took two Skyvans to 13,500 ft and made another excellent dive resulting in
yet another record.
Drumming up local support we then tried a 40-way, but the pressure of the "magic
number" seems to have got
to a few people and there was some "nervous" flying and although it looked like it might
build for a while it wasn't to be. Still, we need a challenge for next year.
POPS UK is now currently second to the USA in size of its national record. The
previous record of 27 was less than the Aussies' 32. We also hold the European
record.
Thanks to Brian Knight as our video man all weekend, and to Pete Knight and Billy
Payn for the work they have put in arranging coaching weekends and the tunnel camp,
all of which contributed to the success of the weekend.
The pilots also did an excellent job of formation flying, though one of the scariest
sights is to open the Skyvan tailgate to find it full of a Caravan or the other Skyvan.
Thanks also to those supporting POPS who were there for the weekend, but didn't make
it on to the record dive.
Pete Shew
POPS 478
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