Skydivers to honour King's jubilee

Bangkok (dpa) - Skydivers from more than 40 countries will attempt two world-record jumps in Thailand next month, including a 400-person formation, to honour King Bhumipol Adulyadej, organizers announced Thursday.

The kingdom is celebrating the world's longest-reigning monarch's 60th year on the throne in 2006.

"We're trying some things that have never been done before, and this is the only country where we have the support, and the airplanes, we need to do it," said Kevin Gibson, spokesman for the International Skydiving World Team '06.

The colour-coordinated 400-person formation would beat the team's own world-record, a 357-diver formation set in Thailand two years ago. The team has established three other world records in the kingdom.

"It's a real loving relationship between the world team and the Thai people, and we want to publicize all the good things that have happened in this country, the most stable in South-East Asia," he said.

The team will build up to the record goal with three daily jumps starting January 28 and hope to achieve the final formation, spanning an area the size of a football pitch, before February 9.

Various national teams have been training around the world for six months to perfect the complicated manoeuvres of five transport planes and coordinating divers to link up from an exit altitude of 7,200 metres.

The Royal Thai Air Force is providing the planes, pilots, controllers and a contingent of its own top skydivers.

Gibson predicted the unprecedented attempt would, if successful, set a record that could stand for many years. International rules stipulate that the formation must build with all jumpers inserting themselves into pre-declared positions.

"This is about getting 400 people together, in 83 seconds, out of five different C-130 airplanes - just try doing that on the ground sometime," Gibson said.

The formation jumps will take place over Udon Thani province in the country's north-eastern region. It is the first time skydivers have ever attempted a 400-person formation.

Whether they ultimately link or sink, the 400 jumpers will then join hundreds of others on February 11 in a world-record, 960-person mass freefall over Bangkok's new Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

"These days many people hear the name Thailand and they think 'oh, tsunami,'" Gibson said. "This is a good-news story, in a place where I think good news is needed. And it's going to be beautiful to see."