Skydive Arizona

06/02/2026

Long before Twin Otters climbed over the Arizona desert. Before world records, wingsuits, and formation skydives.

There was a simple question:

What would it feel like to fly?

The history of skydiving stretches back more than 500 years, from Leonardo da Vinci's earliest parachute sketches to the global skydiving community that exists today. Along the way, inventors, military pioneers, and generations of jumpers helped transform a dream of human flight into the sport we know and love.

If you've ever wondered how skydiving evolved from a bold idea into modern freefall, this story is for you.

Read the full blog and take a journey through the history of human flight.

https://www.skydiveaz.com/history-skydiving/

The history of skydiving is the story of people chasing that feeling for centuries. It started with Renaissance sketches, and developed through experimental

05/23/2026

If you missed out today, don’t worry, the Skyventure Arizona flash sale is continued through the 31st!
🥳

05/22/2026

Ever notice how every tandem skydiving adventure starts the same way?

“What if we actually do it?”

One group chat later, everyone’s hyping each other up, and before long the crew is driving north toward Eloy watching parachutes fill the desert sky.

This new blog captures that exact experience — from the drive up I-10 to the first glimpse of Twin Otters climbing overhead at Skydive Arizona.

If you’ve ever thought about making the jump, this one’s for you.

Read the full story 👇
https://www.skydiveaz.com/skydiving-tucson-leads-to-eloy/

05/18/2026

History just went tandem.

In May 2026, we completed our first tandem skydive from the Bell 205 “Huey” Helicopter, exiting just under 12,000 feet over the Arizona desert.

This wasn’t just another aircraft load.

The Huey is one of the most recognizable helicopters ever built. Known for its role in Vietnam, medevac missions, troop transport, and decades of military service, it carries a legacy you can hear before you even see it.

It was a lift-off in a piece of aviation history, a climb over Eloy in an open-cabin helicopter, and an exit from one of the most iconic aircraft ever to fly.

Who knows?

You might be next.

04/23/2026

Our founder is a legend!! 👏

DZO SPOTLIGHT: Larry Hill

Founder & Visionary — Skydive Arizona | Inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame, 2020

From a borrowed $2,000 and a single Cessna 182 behind a bar in northwest Phoenix, Larry Hill built what would become one of the most iconic drop zones in the world.

Larry's journey into skydiving began on April Fool's Day, 1967 in Germany while serving in the U.S. Air Force. A chance encounter with fellow jumper Jack Inger set in motion a life defined by passion, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to the sport.

After 20 years of military service, Larry founded WildHorse West Parachute Center in 1976. A decade later after surviving a catastrophic thunderstorm that destroyed nearly his entire fleet he seized an opportunity to relocate to a desolate strip of land in Eloy, Arizona. With nothing but vision, Larry and a small crew trenched power lines, laid water, and built Skydive Arizona from the ground up.

Key highlights of Larry's extraordinary legacy:

• Founded Skydive Arizona in Eloy in 1990 now home to 6 Super Otters, Sky Vans, and a DC-3

• Coined the term "Super Otter" - a name that spread across the entire industry

• Backed Arizona Airspeed, helping launch one of the most celebrated 4-way and 8-way teams in skydiving history

• Built one of the first dedicated skydiving wind tunnels in the U.S. - the 3rd in the nation as a training tool, not a tourist attraction

• Hosted every major skydiving event in the world, including U.S. & Collegiate Nationals, World Cups, and World Meets

• Served on the USPA Board and attended nearly every IPC international meeting since 1991

• Survived a heart transplant 10+ years ago crediting the skydiving community's support for helping him through

When asked what advice he'd give aspiring DZOs, Larry put it simply:
"You should have a passion for what you wanna do. That's how you're successful."

Larry Hill thank you for giving the skydiving world a home. 🙌

04/23/2026

We are hiring!
2 Ground Safety Crew Positions Available
• 1 Full-Time
• 1 Part-Time (path to Full-Time)
Ground Safety Crew is responsible for maintaining safe, efficient flight operations. Duties include timing and fueling aircraft, monitoring ramp safety, and coordinating with pilots and manifest to keep loads moving.
Safety-focused, reliable, and comfortable working outdoors in a fast-paced environment.
DZ or aviation experience preferred.
We should also add must be legal to work in US
Must be able to pass drug screening.
Apply online: https://www.skydiveaz.com/application/
or
email your resume to [email protected]

04/20/2026

***IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT***
Aerodyne has issued a manufacturer statement dated April 19, 2026, advising that Technical Bulletin TB-250122 is being elevated from a recommended bulletin to a mandatory service update.
***Effective May 1, 2026, Skydive Arizona will require affected Aerodyne containers to have evidence that this service bulletin has been incorporated.***
If you own or jump an Aerodyne container, please make plans now to ensure compliance before May 1. We will share additional information as it becomes available.

04/20/2026

And that’s a wrap! Skyventure Arizona Heat Wave, the competition with no mercy and all the fun closed out with lots of laughs and hugs and and smiles. congratulations to all the competitors and bravo to the brilliant team behind the scenes! 🥳🫶🏼