NORTH SALT LAKE С Dusty Hanks of North Salt Lake recently set a world record during a skydiving competition held in Chicago.
Hanks, a skydiver, was one of two Utahns to set the vertical skydiving record at the Skydive Chicago Summerfest held on Friday, Aug. 3.
The Federation Aeronautique Internationale certified the Guinness World Record triumph. Falling at speeds of up to 220 mph, Hanks and 137 other skydivers flew at an altitude of 18,500 feet to form the largest linked configuration.
The skydivers also claimed a victory after three days and 15 attempts. The previous record of 108 skydivers was set in 2009.
“This is a rare opportunity filled with years of preparation,” said David Roane, an Ogden resident who participated in the event. “To mark this occasion in skydiving history means the world to me as a professional skydiver.”
Before the record-setting flight took place, tryouts held months in advance determined the participants of the challenge. Held at various locations and drop zones around the U.S. during the past year, the tryouts had thousands of hopefuls turn out.
Once in Chicago, the skydivers were able to practice and simulate the formation on land before taking to the skies.
Following the attempts, organizers and judges from Guinness reviewed the video and photographs to confirm the new world record.
Hanks and Roane are flight instructors at the iFLY Utah location in Ogden. The facility is an indoor skydiving wind tunnel that simulates freefall. Hanks and Roane are also members of the Rockwell Airtime Skydiving Team.
For more information about iFLY, visit iflyutah.com.
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