Members from Army team "Voodoo Monkeys" exit the skyvan aircraft for the four man formation skydiving comp. Photo by Cpl Peter Gammie, RAAF Wagga Wagga

Top landing for overseas teams

Overseas forces have dominated at the 2002 Parachuting Military Nationals, held last last year.

Teams from China, Thailand, Brunei and New Zealand came to RAAF Wagga Wagga to compete against ADF parachutists over 11 days, completing 3000 descents.

More than 100 competitors took part in events such as Formation Skydiving Four Way, Classic Accuracy, Swoop Accuracy, Canopy Formation Rotations and Speed Stars.

Competitors jumped from a RAAF Caribou and the Sydney Skydivers Skyvan aircraft, which was used predominantly for formation skydiving.

The ADF won first and second in the International Canopy Formation, came second in the International Four Way Formation, and won third place in the Team Accuracy event.

Australian teams performed well in the swoop accuracy and domestic four way formation event.

Voodoo Monkeys, a team from PTS, won Swoop Accuracy and came third in the domestic four way formation.

Soldiers from the Royal Thai Army dominated the men’s and women’s individual accuracy events.

• The ADF Parachuting Association has elected a new president, Capt Neale McIver, who succeeds Maj Leigh Shepherd.
  ADF personnel who wish to compete in such parachuting competitions should contact Capt McIver on (07) 3332 7742 or by e-mail Neale.McIver@defence.gov.au or Capt Chad Hodgens on (03) 9450 7638 or by e-mail chad.hodgens@defence.gov.au

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