posted Oct 29th, 2026 - The German formation skydiving delegation consisted of just two teams: Airbus Illertissen in 4-way Open and Operation Adler in 8-way Open. Together, however, they achieved the country's most successful performance at an outdoor world championship in its history. Operation Adler's third consecutive bronze medal in 8-way Open, combined with Airbus Illertissen's 4th-place finish in 4-way Open at the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026, represents Germany's best results in the sport's two most traditional events since 1985.

The NSL News pointed out on October 21st that three current Operation Adler members (Thomas Spielvogel, Olaf Biedermann, and Göran Meyer) were following Airbus Illertissen's performance in Eloy very closely. They had previously recorded the best result by a German 4-way team at an outdoor world championship, finishing 5th at Rijeka 2004.

Airbus Illertissen not only improved Germany's best 4-way Open Class placing from 5th to 4th, but also left the previous team's 18.3 average from 2004 well behind with a 19.9 average at Skydive Arizona. They finished just one point short of the 20-average benchmark and ended up seven points ahead of Sweden's Echochamber after all ten rounds. Echochamber had won this duel against Germany's national 4-way Open Class teams at every outdoor world championship since Australia 2018. At the most recent previous edition, Crystal Coast 2024, the Swedish team claimed the unofficial amateur world championship title by six points (196–190) over the previous Airbus lineup.

FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		11		Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Open		11,16,10		9,17,4		J,D,E,19		1,14,H		K,M,2,O		B,18,6		A,N,7,8		P,L,C,12		F,3,13		20,G,22		Q,15,5		Total	Avg
1	Aethers Lille	FR	18	-1	27		38	-1	23		33		25		26	-1	26	-3	27		21		-		264	26.4
2	Golden Knights	US	18	-1	25		33	-3	21		33		24		25	-2	31		26		21		23	-1	257	25.7
3	NMP PCH HayaBusa	BE	21		26		32	-3	21	-2	31	-2	23	-1	27	-2	29	-1	26		21		23	-1	257	25.7
4	Airbus 4-way Illertissen	DE	17		19	-1	25	-2	18		22	-2	18	-1	21		23	-1	21		15	-1	-		199	19.9
5	Echochamber	SE	13	-2	19		25	-1	18		24	-1	18		22		19	-5	18	-1	16		-		192	19.2
6	Skywalkers Most	CZ	13	-4	15	-3	26	-2	14	-3	22		19		23		18	-5	21	-1	18		-		189	18.9
7	Qatar Vortex	QA	13	-3	17	-2	27		16		23		16	-1	20	-1	19	-4	21		16		-		188	18.8
8	S.O.A.R.	UK	15	-1	16	-3	22	-3	18		22	-1	18		22		19	-1	18		16		-		186	18.6
9	Out Of The Blue	NL	14		17		23	-1	13		25		18		19		17	-2	17		15	-1	-		178	17.8
10	Amnesya Fly X	IT	12	-1	16		22	-2	15	-1	20		13	-1	14	-3	19		0		0		-		131	13.1
11	Flyspot Sky4Four	PL	9	-2	11	-2	12	-4	13		16		12		15		14		12		11		-		125	12.5
12	Random Fixation	AU	8	-3	14		14	-2	8	-3	15		14		13	-2	13		12	-2	12		-		123	12.3
13	MeXtreme	MX	7		9		9		8		11		5	-1	7	-2	7	-2	6		7		-		76	7.6

---

Airbus Illertissen at the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026

---

Germany's 4-way Open Class participation at FAI outdoor world championships since 1985

---

Help the NSL News to Continue the Work - DONATE PLEASE

The unofficial amateur title was anything but an easy achievement for the German Airbus team. The competition was extremely tight behind the medal positions, with each of the next six teams capable of winning a round—and all six managing to do so. Airbus Illertissen ultimately came out on top thanks to the best consistency across all ten rounds, despite a lineup change just a few months before the most important competition of the season.

The NSL News had also pointed out on October 17th that two Airbus members (Felix Pfeiffer, Alexander Prendinger) would have to manage double duties in both 4-way and 8-way, as they were also part of Operation Adler's 8-way lineup, alongside Thomas Spielvogel, Olaf Biedermann, and Göran Meyer.

They had the advantage of being well acquainted with 8-way competition, having won bronze with Operation Adler at Crystal Coast 2024. In fact, they had already taken on the same double duties two years earlier, together with their current teammate Thomas Mack. The Airbus team captain volunteered to serve only as an alternate for this year's Operation Adler lineup. His priority was to guide his two sons, Tim Mack in the point slot and Moritz Mack on camera, through their first outdoor world championship. Tim Mack had already been filming for Airbus Illertissen at Crystal Coast before moving to the point slot when his brother Moritz Mack took over as the team's videographer.

FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026			1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10		Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open		11,16,10		9,17,4		J,D,E,19		1,14,H		K,M,2,O		B,18,6		A,N,7,8		P,L,C,12		F,3,13		20,G,22		Total	Avg
1	Paraclete XP8	US	22		19		17	-1	18	-1	20		19	-1	19		21		21	-1	20		196	19.6
2	Qatar Falcons	QA	18	-1	18		16	-2	19		19		19		17		16	-5	24		20		186	18.6
3	Operation Adler	DE	15	-1	14		13		14		11	-2	14		12		16		16		14		139	13.9
4	Netunos	BR	12		12	-1	11		11	-1	9	-2	11		10		10	-1	11	-2	10		107	10.7
5	Canada8	CA	10		9		7		9		7		11		9		8	-1	10		9		89	8.9

---

Operation Adler at the FAI Outdoor World Championship 2026

---

Germany's 8-way Open Class participation at FAI outdoor world championships since 1985

---

The unofficial amateur world championship title is not recognized at FAI/ISC events, as it is far too complicated to define the status of participating teams accurately. However, at least Felix Pfeiffer and Alexander Prendinger were rewarded once again with 8-way bronze medals in Eloy, just as their teammate Thomas Mack had been at Crystal Coast.

In fact, all Airbus Illertissen members stood on the 8-way podium to receive their bronze medals. Thomas and Tim Mack were both official alternates for the German 8-way team, allowing almost the entire 4-way lineup to celebrate their unofficial amateur world championship on the 8-way awards podium. Only Moritz Mack missed out, as Jürgen Klaus was on camera for Operation Adler.

FAI/ISC outdoor world championships in formation skydiving are currently facing low and steadily declining participation. This situation can benefit teams that might otherwise struggle to reach the medal positions if participation levels were comparable to those at Spain 2001 or Dubai 2012. Nevertheless, Germany's formation skydiving delegations have maintained a remarkably consistent presence at outdoor world championships since 1985, and the country deserved its first official FAI medals in 2022, 2024, and 2026.

Participation in formation skydiving competition at outdoor world championships since 1985

---

Help the NSL News to Continue the Work - DONATE PLEASE