posted Sep 8th, 2026 - The NSL News covered the 4-way competition at the German Outdoor Nationals 2026 at halftime, after the completion of the first five rounds. Airbus 4-way Illertissen, competing with their old and new rear piece, were already 22 points ahead of the team in second place, as reported in the update on September 1st. Their lead eventually increased to 45 points after Round 10, and Germany’s national 4-way Open team confirmed its competitive position in the run-up to the unofficial amateur championship behind the expected medal contenders at the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026.

The competition videos show Airbus 4-way Illertissen and their current lineup delivering an 18.6 average in Gera. The competition ended on a high note for the team in Round 10, which the team members considered the kind of performance they would like to repeat in every round at the upcoming outdoor world championship: “This is the jump you want to finish your competition with...”

It was only logical that the Airbus performance would improve round by round, as the very short notice for the lineup change left little time for preparation and warm-up. Each competition round became part of the team’s warm-up process, with a temporary peak coming in Round 10. There are still five weeks left to train for a 10-round performance at the same level as the final round of the national championship.

Germany Outdoor Nationals 2026		1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way AAA/Open	4,17,11		K,5,19		E,22,A,H		3,B,6		8,D,O,9		F,16,N,20		13,14,10		18,G,L,15		2,21,Q		P,1,7		Total	Avg
1	Airbus 4-way Illertissen	14	-1	19		23		20		21		18	-1	15		17	-1	16		23		186	18.6
2	Meltemi Oceanside Illertissen	12		15		17		15		16		14		9	-2	13		13		17		141	14.1
3	Dark NeVa	10		12		15		14		12		14		9	-1	11	-3	11		15		123	12.3
4	Fi4na	10		11		13		12		13		11		10		11		11		12		114	11.4
5	Kommt noch	11		11		13		8	-3	13		11		9		11	-1	12		14		113	11.3
6	Pace Gojump Gransee	7	-1	9	-1	9	-1	11		12	-1	11		9		11		12		13		104	10.4
7	Devil's Dive	8		9		10	-1	10		12		11		8		10		10		13		101	10.1

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Airbus 4-way Illertissen at the German Outdoor Nationals 2026

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The current lineup, featuring the rear piece from 2021–2024 (Felix Pfeiffer – Tail, Alexander Prendinger – Inside Center) and the front piece from 2025–2026 (Thomas Mack – Outside Center, Tim Mack – Point), with Moritz Mack on camera, has the potential to surpass the highest Airbus 4-way average in history: the 20.1 achieved at the German Outdoor Nationals 2013.

The rear piece is obviously very well trained, despite the two-year break for Alexander Prendinger. Father and son Thomas and Tim Mack, meanwhile, have had only two years to become familiar with each other in freefall. However, the timing could work perfectly for the current lineup, with all the Airbus pieces potentially falling into place together by the time Round 1 begins in Eloy.

The complete lineup, including Airbus videographer Moritz Mack, also entertained themselves in 8-way after managing another very short call. Operation Adler's 8-way members Göran Meyer, Steffen Schiedek, Felix Pfeiffer, and Alexander Prendinger became available because their 8-way team did not attend the competition.

Felix Pfeiffer and Alexander Prendinger may have to perform double duty in both 4-way and 8-way next month at Skydive Arizona if the reigning FAI 8-way bronze medalists of Operation Adler compete for Germany. This would not come as a surprise to them, as it was already the original plan before the German national championship.

Germany Outdoor Nationals 2026			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		G,O,N,C,P		1,J,F,A		18,7,20		10,17,4		6,B,16		L,11,22		8,Q,9		Total	Avg
1	Qatar Falcons	QA	22		25		16		18		23		21		15		140	20.0
2	Operation Grounded Eagle	DE	10		12	-1	9		12		14		5	-4	6	-1	68	9.7
3	Standard Saulgau 8-way	DE	6		9		8		8		10		8		6		55	7.9
4	Coriolis	DE	8		8	-1	5	-2	7		10		8		6		52	7.4
Rank	8-way Intermediate		P,6		B,N,13		16,C		18,K		M,J,19		3,1		5,F		Total	Avg
1	Paranodon	DE	5		2		2		3		2		3		5		22	3.1

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Operation Grounded Eagle at the German Outdoor Nationals 2026

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