Last updated: July 14, 2026
In late June 2026, five official FAI records in wingsuit formation flying were set over Lake Balaton in Hungary — three European records in vertical formations and a world record in a 25-way sequential formation with two figures built in a single jump. The international team from nine European countries also included three Latvian skydivers: Julija Veigure, Edgars Veigurs and Ritvars Berzkalns.
The first of the two world-record figures — a 25-way wingsuit formation over Lake Balaton, June 2026
What records were set over Lake Balaton?
From June 21 to 25, 2026, at the Skydive Balaton drop zone in Siófok, Hungary, an international team of 25 wingsuit pilots set five official FAI records: European records in 23-way, 24-way and 25-way vertical formations, plus a 25-way sequential formation record with two figures, ratified as both a European and a world record.
The project brought together 26 people from nine European countries — 25 pilots in the formation and one camera flyer, whose footage served as the basis for the judges' evaluation. All three vertical records fell on the very first record day, in three consecutive jumps. The previous European record in a no-grip vertical wingsuit formation stood at 21 pilots, set in 2025.
| Record | Pilots | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 23-way Vertical Wingsuit Formation | 23 | European record |
| 24-way Vertical Wingsuit Formation | 24 | European record |
| 25-way Vertical Wingsuit Formation | 25 | European record |
| 25-way Sequential Wingsuit Formation (2 figures) | 25 | European and world record |
A detailed account of the project was published by the skydiving magazine Skydive Mag, where the organizers describe how the record week unfolded.
What is wingsuit formation flying?
A wingsuit is a special suit with fabric surfaces between the arms and legs that turns freefall into a gliding flight. In formation flying, several pilots hold precisely assigned positions relative to one another in the air, together forming a single geometric figure.
Unlike classic formation skydiving, where jumpers link hands, wingsuit formation records are flown without grips. Each pilot is assigned an exact place in a three-dimensional structure and must hold it relative to the others throughout the flight. A record only counts if, at a given moment, every participant is exactly in their slot.
What makes a vertical wingsuit formation different?
Vertical wingsuit formation is a new FAI discipline, added to the official rules only in 2024. In contrast to the familiar, flatter wingsuit glide, vertical formations are flown at a steep angle with a high descent rate, so pilots must constantly manage both their speed and their position in three dimensions.
The idea for the record was born a year earlier at the same Skydive Balaton drop zone, when project organizer Michał Brosig suggested testing the new FAI format during informal boogie jumps. Wingsuit pilots usually enjoy movement — carving, diving and dynamic group flying — so it was initially unclear whether such a static, precise style would appeal to them at all. But the technical challenge itself — holding an exact slot at high speed — turned out to be the main driver behind an official record attempt.
| Discipline | Task in the jump | Result at Balaton |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical formation | Build and hold one precise figure in steep, no-grip flight | 23-, 24- and 25-way European records |
| Sequential formation | Build two different figures in one jump, with an in-flight rebuild | 25-way European and world record |
What did the world record jump look like?
In a sequential formation, the team first builds one figure and then, without interrupting the flight, changes positions and builds a second one — the judges evaluate both. In the record jump, 25 pilots built two figures within a single jump, and the performance was ratified as both a European and a world record.
The rebuild proved to be the hardest part: more than 20 people had to change positions at the same time while keeping safe separation and precision at high speed. Six sequential record attempts were made in total — after several jumps, detailed briefings and video analysis, the team finally flew the jump that the judges confirmed as the record.
The second figure after the in-flight rebuild — the closing formation of the world record jump
How was the record prepared and executed?
Preparation took almost a year: the organizers studied the FAI rules, selected the team and designed the figures. Brosig built a dedicated app for designing formations and transitions, so that every pilot received visual materials showing their position and tasks, while on the ground the line-ups were rehearsed with a formation mock-up.
The jumps were made from an Mi-8 helicopter at roughly 4,000 metres — the helicopter could lift the entire team, 25 pilots plus the camera flyer, in a single load. The organizers also had reserved airspace, which allowed long, straight wingsuit flight lines toward Lake Balaton. Over the course of the event, 13 jumps were made in total: four training jumps, three vertical record jumps and six sequential record attempts.
The project was organized by Polish skydivers: alongside Brosig, Michał Migała worked as co-organizer and camera flyer, and the team included ten Polish pilots. The event was also covered by the Polish aviation portal dlapilota.pl.
How does the FAI ratify such records?
The World Air Sports Federation (FAI) ratifies formation records based on the camera flyer's footage: judges verify that, at a given moment, every pilot is exactly in their assigned position. A record officially exists only after the judges confirm it — a formation that looks beautiful on video is not yet a record.
The Balaton records were reviewed by a panel of five FAI judges: Michaela Belde, Mike Pennock, Anna Strożek, Lidia Kosk and Sławomir Choroszucha. The judges confirmed all five records on site during the event; according to the organizers, their formal FAI ratification was still in progress in early July 2026. Official records are registered in the public FAI records database. Both the vertical and the sequential wingsuit formation categories only appeared in the FAI rules in 2024, which makes them some of the youngest disciplines in the sport of skydiving.
The transition from the first figure to the second — both world-record formations in one frame
What was Latvia's role in the record?
Three Latvian skydivers flew in the record team — Julija Veigure, Edgars Veigurs and Ritvars Berzkalns. Veigure flew the base position: the central point of the formation around which the whole figure is built, one of the most demanding roles in a jump like this.
Ritvars Berzkalns, Edgars Veigurs and Julija Veigure on a joint training jump over Limbaži airfield
Julija Veigure and Edgars Veigurs
Ritvars Berzkalns (right, in helmet) preparing for a BASE jump
Photos: from the athletes' Facebook profiles
The achievement was also covered by Latvian public television — the LTV story about the world record is available on LSM replay (in Latvian). News from the Latvian skydiving community is published by the Latvian Parachuting Federation.
Formation records have their own history in Latvia: in 2021, a 29-way star formation was built over Liepāja, setting the national record in classic formation skydiving, and in September 2026 the first Latvian record in the freefly head-down discipline is planned at Limbaži airfield.
FAQ
What is a wingsuit, and who is allowed to fly one?
A wingsuit is a suit with fabric wings between the arms and legs that lets a skydiver glide forward in freefall. It is not for beginners: under international practice, such as the requirements of the United States Parachute Association (USPA), a jumper needs at least 200 regular skydives before starting wingsuit training.
What does "25-way" mean?
"25-way" describes a formation flown by 25 pilots at the same time, each with a defined position in the figure. A camera flyer flies alongside the formation to film the record — the Balaton project involved 26 people in total, but only the formation members count toward the record.
From what altitude were the record jumps made?
All jumps were made from roughly 4,000 metres using an Mi-8 helicopter, which lifted the entire 26-person team in a single load. Reserved airspace allowed long, straight flight lines toward Lake Balaton.
What was the previous European record in vertical formations?
The previous European record in a no-grip vertical wingsuit formation stood at 21 pilots and was set in 2025. During the Balaton project it was beaten three times in a row — with 23-, 24- and finally 25-way formations.
Do the pilots hold on to each other in the formation?
No. Wingsuit formation records are flown without grips: at high speed, the pilots must hold an exact position relative to the others without touching anyone. The judges use the video footage to check that everyone is precisely in their slot at a given moment.
Who officially ratifies skydiving records?
Skydiving records are registered and ratified by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI). The evaluation is based on the camera flyer's footage, and the decision is made by an official panel of judges. A record takes effect only after the judges confirm it.