Bittersweet ending to Bali world parachuting attempt<\/p>\n
Text by Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Bali<\/p>\n
Indonesia lost one of its top-notch sky divers when 55-year-old
\nveteran Theodorus Petrus Mandagi's parachute failed to open
\nduring an attempt by 103 international parachutists to set a new
\nworld record of mass free-fall formation creating an impressive
\nsix-bladed red-and-white propeller formation on Aug. 11 from the
\nheight of 18,000 feet over the Ngurah Rai International Airport
\nin Tuban.<\/p>\n
The momentous event has had a significant impact on
\nIndonesia's skydiving and aero sports as well as on Bali as one
\nof the world's top tourist destinations.<\/p>\n
For the first time, the 103 athletes from 16 different
\ncountries collaborated in this breathtaking event to set a world
\nrecord for creating an aerial formation for seven seconds at 6:07
\np.m. (local time).<\/p>\n
The jumpers came from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany,
\nThailand, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Belgium,
\nNorway, the Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, El Salvador and the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
Led by the world's top skydiving instructor B.J. Worth from
\nthe United States, the 103 athletes boarded the C-130 Hercules
\nbelonging to the Indonesian Air Force and managed to break the
\nrecord after three days of tireless efforts.<\/p>\n
Overshadowed by the death of Theo P. Mandagi, the event has,
\nhowever, encouraged younger generations of aviation athletes in
\nIndonesia to achieve their dreams and to make their mark in
\nvarious international events.<\/p>\n
Theo was the fourth son in the Mandagi family to died in
\nconnection with skydiving. His three brothers, Roby, Alfred and
\nChris Mandagi died in an airplane crash along with other sky
\ndivers.<\/p>\n
According to H. Nifsu Chasbullah, chairman of the Indonesian
\nSkydiving and Aero sports association, the event was aimed at
\nregaining the confidence of the international community in Bali
\nand Indonesian in general and to revitalize the tarnished image
\nof Bali as an international tourist destination in the wake of
\nthe October 2002 Bali bombing.<\/p>\n
\"The world record is our gift to Indonesia as it celebrates
\nits 59th anniversary,\" Nifsu said.<\/p>\n
The record was also documented by MURI, the Indonesian Record
\nMuseum.<\/p>\n
According to, Lt. Col. Yoyok Y. Setyono, Ngurah Rai Airport
\ncommander, the event was fully sponsored by the Air Force.<\/p>\n
\"Our main intention was to invite international sky divers to
\nvisit Bali and to see for themselves that Bali is already safe,\"
\nsaid Setyono.<\/p>\n
The Air Force flew two aircraft, the Hercules-130H and CN-235
\nfor the 103 jumpers.<\/p>\n
After breaking the world record, the sky divers continued
\ntheir efforts at the Selaparang airport in Lombok, West Nusa
\nTenggara on Aug. 14.<\/p>\n
\"In addition to Bali, Lombok also experienced a difficult
\nperiod after the Bali bombing. The international skydiving event
\nis expected to bring international attention to this small
\nisland,\" Nifsu said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bittersweet-ending-to-bali-world-parachuting-attempt-1447893297",
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