posted Jun 15th, 2016 - Most of the recent news related to Arizona Airspeed go back to a fact that became public knowledge after the USPA Nationals 2015 and was announced by the Sun Path Products NSL News on December 21st, 2015. Thomas Hughes, Airspeed's Outside Center since 2011, steps back from the active lineup after this year's national championships.

This Airspeed situation required the logical consequence of the next Airspeed recruiting campaign for a new member. Mikhail Markine committed to the new lineup and would have to wait until after the USPA Nationals 2016. This changed when Chris Farina left the team and Josh Hall was not able to fill the Point slot. Mikhail Markine came into earlier Airspeed action at the Shamrock Showdown 2016.

The topic was still alive, as Airspeed still needed to replace Thomas Hughes and find a new Outside Center. It was finally rested when Airspeed announced on June 6th that Ari Perelman is the newest team member to replace Thomas Hughes at the end of the 2016 season.

Thomas Hughes' NSL Profile is one of several that require updates. The recent Airspeed headlines moved this specific profile story to the top of this list.

Thomas Hughes was not even an Airspeed member at the point in time when the profile story ended (October 2005). He had been videographer and alternate for DeLand Fire in the runup to DeLand Fire's 4-way gold medals at the World Meet 2006 in Gera, Germany, and he had just accepted the first Airspeed invitation for an 8-way slot in 2006: "Thomas Hughes accepted the Airspeed slot for the 2006 season. The NSL News audience will surely hear more of the ongoing impressive skydiving career of the King of the Tunnel."

There surely was much more news later of his Airspeed career, which is now coming to an end in October.

Airspeed's 8-way lineup of 2006 with new member Thomas Hughes won the silver medals at the same world meet where DeLand Fire became the 4-way world champions. Thomas Hughes also won his first USPA gold medal the same year with Airspeed's 8-way team, while he trained and competed with Airspeed's 4-way "farm team" Velocity.

Then he left Airspeed and joined Fastrax in 2007, where he met Niklas Hemlin, who would eventually become his 4-way world champion team mate in 2012. Fastrax did not continue in 2008, and Thomas Hughes joined a colorful U.S. pickup team that would defend his 8-way silver medal successfully at the World Meet 2008 in Maubeuge, and then finish behind Arizona Airspeed at the USPA Nationals.

Thomas Hughes was still two years away from the beginning of his 6-year period with Arizona Airspeed when the 2009 season began. He first joined DeLand Fire world champions Shannon Pilcher and Ian Bobo for one year with Spaceland Force XP. Gary Beyer completed the Force lineup.

USPA Nationals 2009		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open	13,20,18	D,10,3	16,15,K	G,Q,L,8	B,17,21	A,N,H,P,O	1,14,M	19,12,J	5,11,C	22,9,E	Total	Avg
1	Airspeed Odyssey	20	21	24	28	26	44	21	21	23	23	251	25.1
2	Spaceland Force XP	18	23	23	25	24	45	21	20	23	22	244	24.4
3	Perris Fury	17	21	22	27	24	43	22	19	23	25	243	24.3

Spaceland Force XP posted a new 4-way world record for a single round with the 45-pointer at the USPA Nationals 2009 (A,N,H,P,O) and still had to accept the 2nd place (24.4 - 25.2) behind Airspeed's 2007 - 2010 lineup (Eliana Rodriguez, Craig Girard, Mark Kirkby, Andy Delk). He also competed with Paraclete XP's 8-way lineup in 2009.

The 2010 season was once again a slower one. He trained and competed as a player coach with Speedy Kids and was back in Paraclete XP's 8-way team for more USPA bronze medals.

The significant turning point in his skydiving career came when Airspeed's lineup of 2007 - 2010 was done after gold medals in Maubeuge 2008 and silver in Menzelinsk 2010. Mark Kirkby recruited a completely new lineup, Thomas Hughes accepted the first Airspeed invitation for a 4-way slot and moved to Arizona.

FAI Mondial Dubai 2012			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		5,12,E	6,D,B,K	O,8,7	N,13,18	10,21,M	19,H,11	C,G,1,A	20,9,15	16,F,P,Q	2,J,4	Total	Avg
1	Arizona Airspeed	US	27	34	27	22	23	23	32	25	40	26	279	27.9
2	NMP-PCH Hayabusa	BE	25	34	27	21	23	24	32	27	40	25	278	27.8
3	Aerodyne Aerokart	FR	26	30	27	21	23	25	29	23	37	24	265	26.5

Thomas Hughes' six years with Arizona Airspeed have been well documented by the Sun Path Products NSL News, and they include five USPA 4-way gold medals, as well as his first FAI 4-way gold medal at the Mondial Dubai 2012.

He said in 2005 that he will be "Exactly where I should be" in ten years, and he quoted Ralph Vaull Starr for his vision: "Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal."

It seems like the vision of his own life and career were still a good match ten years later. His family status has changed significantly though. He was single in October 2005, and he is married now and a brand-new father. The next update of his NSL Profile might cover a coaching career or only family life...