Skydive Hibaldstow is a parachuting and skydiving drop zone centre in Hibaldstow, North Lincolnshire, England. Skydive Hibaldstow is affiliated with the skydiving company British Skydiving.
History
First opened in May 1941, the airfield served as RAF Hibaldstow, a former satellite fighter airfield for RAF Kirton in Lindsey. During World War II, RAF squadrons No. 255 and No. 253 were based out of Hibaldstow. It also served as a satellite of RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey; afterwards it changed its function to fulfill a training role before eventually closing in May 1945.
Skydive Hibaldstow has its origins from several early parachuting clubs dating back to the 1960s. These clubs included Lincoln Pathfinders, Leeds Bradford Parachute Club, and the Doncaster Parachute Club. For instance, the Doncaster Parachute Club started in the early 1980s. The operation then moved in 1992 to its present location due to industrial development in which the runway was dug up and replaced with warehousing.
Events and training
Skydive Hibaldstow was the host of the National Championships each year and held a range of events which included the following:
An annual 28-way formation skydiving sequential competition. This event has since ended after being run from 2005 to 2015. A drop zone formation skydiving bigway record attempt. In 2007, this was set at 50 and in 2009 the record was increased to a 60-way formation. BS Coaching Roadshows for freefly, formation skydiving, and speed skydiving. Canopy coaching, canopy formation, regular wingsuit flocking, and FS bigway weekends. The European Skydiving League finals were also held for the first time at Hibaldstow in 2009. The British Collegiate Parachute Association (BCPA) nationals were held in 2015 and 2016. The annual Halloween 10-way Speed Frostbite Friendly competition was yet another event. The hosted the UK Skydiving League competition which acted as a regional grand-prix type event. There are also Safety and Packing days. Instructor courses are also given.
In addition to these events, Skydive Hibaldstow is a centre for team training including back-to-back jumping where a skydiver or team can make a number of jumps by using more than one set of equipment. After landing from the first jump, the equipment is handed to a qualified parachute packer and the parachutist then meets the same aircraft they just jumped from as it lands on the runway with a second set of equipment.
National Championships
In 1996, The National Championships were first held at Hibaldstow. Except for one year, they have continued to host the competition. The disciplines include 4-way and 8-way formation skydiving, freefly, freestyle, speed skydiving, and VFS (vertical formation skydiving). Two weekends (Saturday to Monday) are set aside every August with the events being split equally between them.
Year 2009 saw the 4-way, 8-way, and VFS disciplines all completed in a single day totaling some 143 take-offs by the fleet of 3 aircraft. In 2014, a record 78 teams took part (see below for more information).
Courses and equipment
The centre offers RAPS (Static Line), Accelerated Freefall (AFF) and Tandem skydiving courses to the public all year long. As part of this, they own a selection of student equipment and parachutes for hire.