The Drop

News and Resources from AXIS Flight School

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AXIS Flight School offers structured, progressive training designed to help sport skydivers of all levels achieve their personal and competitive goals. Whether you’re looking to improve your canopy skills, master new freefall techniques in the tunnel and sky, or prepare for competition, our world-class coaches will guide you every step of the way.

  • 2024 USPA National Skydiving Championships Recap

    The 2024 United States Parachute Association National Championships were held at Skydive Chicago on August 31st – September 26th. AXIS Flight School’s Brianne Thompson and Niklas Daniel competed in Speed Skydiving, which ran from the 16th to the 18th. In total there were 19 competitors, the largest turn out in US history for the discipline. Among the competitors were 5 females (two juniors) and 14 males (two juniors). The weather was perfect, and the competition aircraft was a twin otter. The Speed Skydiving Judges line up included: Ted Chen (Chief Judge), Michael Cooper, and Toby Adams.

    Results by InTimeScoring

    Nik continues to hold onto the number one spot with a third consecutive national title and some new personal competition-bests. His average speed over eight rounds was 518.10kmh (321.93mph), highest scoring round of 522.31kmh (324.55mph), and a competition total of 4144.81kmh. Excluding round 1, where “stuff” happened, Nik was able to remain extremely consistent over the duration of the competition with a standard deviation of only 0.892. Nik broke a total of 9 records, including:

    • Highest Overall Average: 518.10kmh / 321.93mph

    (Illinois State, National, North American Continental)

    • Highest Average Speed: 522.31kmh / 324.55mph

    (Illinois State, National, North American Continental)

    • Maximum Vertical Speed without Drogue: 531.9kmh / 330.51mph

    (Illinois State, National, North American Continental)

    Nik’s ISSA Global Eternal Ranking remains at #2 behind Marco Hepp from Germany.

    Brianne brought her best performance to date and is now the world’s fastest female speed skydiver. She broke 11 records, two of them World, and tying 1 World in the process. Her average speed over eight rounds was 487.75kmh (303.07mph), highest scoring round of 497.80kmh (309.32mph), and a competition total of 3902.02kmh. Brianne’s standard deviation over 8 rounds was 5.796, and her record performances include:

    • Highest Overall Average: 487.75kmh / 303.07mph

    (Illinois State, National, North American Continental, World)

    • Highest Average Speed: 497.80kmh / 309.32mph

    (Illinois State, National, North American Continental, World)

    • Maximum Vertical Speed without Drogue: 500.9kmh / 311.24mph

    (Illinois State, National, North American Continental) – Tied World.

    Brianne’s ISSA Global Eternal Ranking has moved up from #34 to #20.

    All records are under review and pending ratification.

    A tight race for third place unfolded between Brianne and Matt Fry who were only 2 kmh apart going into round 8. In the end, Matt took the bronze with a 6.5 kmh lead. Both came incredibly close to joining the 500 Club.

    From left to right: Matthew Fry (bronze), Niklas Daniel (gold), TJ Landgren (silver). Photo by Anthony Armendariz

    Congratulations to all Speeders who participated!

    The 2025 World Cup USA Speed Skydiving Prachute Team

    From left to right: Niklas Daniel, Brianne Thompson, Chad Henderson, Michael Goodwin, Patrick Kessler, Keaton Crowder, TJ Landgren, Logan Mahone, Katy Felix, Kate Cardinal, Matthew Fry, Eugenio Ciurana.
    Photo by Anthony Armendariz.

    Special shout out to Air Force Academy members Katy Felix, Kate Cardinal, and Chad Henderson! This is the first time that Air Force cadets have qualified for a world level event. We look forward to competing with you in Hohenems, Austria (Aug 25-30, 2025)!

    Team AXIS trained hard this season, but the USPA Nationals was only a short stop before the upcoming  2024 World Championships in Beaufort, North Carolina October 4th – 12th.

    AXIS thanks all of its sponsors and supporters who make chasing our dreams possible. In no particular order: Skydive Arizona, Skyventure Arizona, Performance Designs, UPT, Cypres, Cookie, Vertical Suits, L&B Altimeters, FlySight, and Althoff & Voeller.

    To check out more USPA Nationals media coverage, visiting the USPA’s YouTube Channel.

  • Blue Skies – Fun Days Ep 97: How safe and durable are Cypres AAD cutters?

    For more information about Cypres AAD, check out this post.

  • 2024 MFS 2-way Block videos now online!

    The AXIS MFS dive pool images and videos have been updated. Blocks 6, 11, 14, 15, 16, and 17 have been replaced / added. Also, Random A has been updated. The new content is now availble on the AXIS Draw Generator.

    Videos courtesy of FliteShop / Taylor Buffington.

    New MFS Random A

  • AXIS Summer Fun over Italy

    Over Skydive Pull Out Ravenna, Italy. Adriatic Sea in the background.

  • AXIS sets two new Arizona Speed Records

    On April 20th, Brianne Thompson and Niklas Daniel of AXIS Flight School set out to break the Arizona State absolute record for greatest freefall speed (Female and General respectively). Skydive Arizona flew one of their twin otters to 17,650 ft AGL which gave the team extra working time to accelerate. The freefall performance lasted approximately 30seconds before they had to pull out of their dives. Brianne’s top speed was 500.364 km/h (310.912 mph), and Nik reached a top speed of 563.829 km/h (350.347 mph). The freefall data was gathered using Bionic Avionics FLYSIGHT (GPS). The pair was happy with their performance and plan to use the experience gained to improve their competitive edge for the upcoming USPA Nationals and FAI World Championships.

  • Brianne Thompson ISSA Featured Athlete

    Brianne Thompson is the latest athelete to be featured on the International Speed Skydiving Association’s website! Go check out her bio by clicking on the image below.

  • ISSA World Cup Series Event (Eloy #1) Recap

    Over the Easter weekend, Brianne Thompson and Niklas Daniel of AXIS Flight School organized the first ISSA World Cup Series Event in the United States at Skydive Arizona. The International Speed Skydiving Association is an group of Speed Skydiving enthusiasts and a non-registered not for profit organization with the goal to develop the sport. Speed Skydiving is an exciting discipline where athletes attempt to achieve the highest possible vertical speed in freefall, making it the fastest non-motorized sport on earth. The ISSA World Series 2024 consists of seven separate meets around the globe. The overall result is the sum of the two best meet results for each competitor regardless of the number of events completed. The competitor with the most points at the end of the year is declared the ISSA Speed Skydiving World Cup Series Champion 2024. Every participant competes against each other performing solo jumps. At the end of the competition scores are applied to the following categories: Open, female, and junior (24 years or younger).

    Some of the major benefits of the Speed Skydiving discipline are its inclusivity and accessibility. AXIS offered a speed skills-camp a few days prior to hosting the ISSA event. For some it was their first skydiving competition experience. The competition utilizes the FAI rules, which gave participants insight as to how the USPA Nationals will feel later this year. While the bleak weather forecast deterred several participants from attending the drop zone got started early, allowing the competition to complete 4 out of 8 rounds.

    In the open category, Niklas Daniel took gold with an average speed of 508.77kmh and highest scoring round of 512.26kmh (318.30mph). Brianne Thompson came in second with an average speed of 477.43kmh and highest scoring round of 481.11kmh (298.95mph). In addition, Brianne set a female Arizona State record with an absolute top speed of 487.655kmh (303.01mph). Third place went to Brandon Herrington with an average speed of 409.54kmh and highest scoring round of 413.35kmh (256.84mph). In the female category, Brianne took gold, followed by Emily Quinn who secured silver with an average speed of 359.69kmh and highest scoring round of 368.41kmh (228.92mph). Competition results can be viewed at: https://next.skyderby.ru/events/speed_skydiving/112

    The competitors received goody bags with assorted swag from AXIS Flight School’s sponsors as well as medals provided by Skydive Arizona. In addition, all participants received an ISSA global ranking which can be viewed at: https://www.issa.one/issa-world-cup-series-2024/

    From left to right: Brianne Thompson, Joel Williamson, Emily Quinn, Brandon Herrington, Alexander Osborn, Niklas Daniel. Photo by Jochen Althoff.

    AXIS Flight School gives thanks to Skydive Arizona and its staff, Donna “Coop” Bachler for judging, and Jochen Althoff for providing technical support. Speed measuring devices were provided by FlySight. AXIS will host a second ISSA World Cup Series Event at Skydive Arizona on December 06 – 10, 2024. To learn more about speed skydiving, schedule coaching, and or register for the December event, visit https://axisflightschool.com

  • Blue Skies – Fun Days Ep 88: Becoming a Coach

  • ISSA World Cup Series Events 2024 USA

    ISSA World Cup Series teaser by AXIS Flight School

    How fast can YOU go?

    The International Speed Skydiving Association (ISSA) is an association of Speed Skydiving enthusiasts. The ISSA is a non-registered not for profit organization with the goal to develop the sport, to organize annual  World Cup Series events and to promote Speed Skydiving. AXIS Flight School will host two ISSA competition events in 2024 in the United States. The ISSA World Cup Series consists of several meets hosted around the globe.

    Competitors have their scores aggregated from their two best competition performances. The competitor with the most points at the end of the season is declared ISSA Speed Skydiving World Series Champion 2024. For details, see the ISSA World Cup Series and FAI Rules.

    Every participant competes against everyone. At the end of the competition each score applied to the following categories: Open, Female, and Junior. Open results include the scores of all participants. In the Female category, only female athlete’s scores are considered. A junior athlete is 21 years of age or younger.

    After the main event is concluded, we will be offering the Mixed Test Event, which consists of a 2-way team comprised of one male and one female competitor. Over three rounds, each competitor performs solo speed skydives. At the completion of each round, the team members’ scores are aggregated. The team with the highest score at the end of three rounds is declared the winner.

    Scores will be posted on Skyderby.

    For event details and registration, click here.

    For more information about the disciplne check out this artricle, and the AXIS Speed Skydiving web page.

  • 2023 Performance Textiles Ad