AIRBUS 4-Way: 25 Years of Formation Skydiving

For 25 years, the AIRBUS 4-Way Formation Skydiving team has defined precision and teamwork in German formation flying. Now led by Tomas Mack and joined by his two sons, AIRBUS 4-Way formation crew enters a new era. They are still fuelled by deep passion, pushing for progression, and founded on trust. Much like JYRO, they’re built on legacy and flying with purpose.

We caught up with Tom to talk about the evolution of this iconic German team. We discussed what it means to fly with family and how 25 years of history is being carried forward by the next generation.

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Meet the Team:

Tom Mack (Outside Center)
Tim Mack (Point)
Felix Pfeiffer (Inside Center)
Claire Rebhahn (Tail)
Moritz Mack (Video)

>> VIEW THE AIRBUS 4-WAY ATHLETE BIO
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AIRBUS 4-Way is celebrating 25 years! The longest-running skydiving team project in Germany.

Tom, you’ve been part of that legacy for more than a decade. What’s it been like watching the team evolve?

Being part of AIRBUS 4-Way for so many years has been an incredible journey. Watching the team develop over 25 years has been inspiring. Being an integral part of this team for 14 years has been an enrichment and an honor – not only in terms of skill and performance, but also in terms of team culture.

Although the team has always been driven by the idea of performance, the spirit of camaraderie and mutual support have always been paramount. These are values that make AIRBUS 4-Way a family. It’s nice to know that we are part of a legacy that continues to influence skydiving in Germany and beyond. It’s exciting to see how the next generation is already shaping the future of the team.

“Camaraderie and mutual support — that’s what makes AIRBUS 4-Way feel like family.”

How has the team’s philosophy or spirit stayed consistent—and where have you seen it shift over the years?

Our team spirit, mutual trust, willingness to work hard, and the idea of fostering young talent have never changed – this is the heart of AIRBUS 4-Way. If anything has changed about our team spirit, it’s that we keep up with the times with new and younger team members. We remain agile accordingly, always based on the same philosophy of passion and camaraderie.

AIRBUS has always had a strong leader guiding each new lineup.

How has it felt stepping into that leadership role—especially now, with your own family on the team?

Taking on the captain’s role within the team was a natural, gradual process. Responsibility has always been part of my career path, so it felt like a natural step when it happened at AIRBUS 4-Way as well.

Since my sons joined the team, my role in principle hasn’t changed—we communicate and act as equals. Even though I bring more experience, I value their input and can fully accept criticism or objections from them. Our strong relationship, which already existed before, is a huge advantage for us.

What makes this time special is that I now get to lead not only as a teammate but also as a father. That adds an extra layer of pride and motivation to give my best and lead by example. It’s a privilege to help shape the team’s future while sharing this journey with my family.

“In the sky, we’re teammates. On the ground, we’re family.”

Flying alongside your sons brings a powerful family dynamic to the team. How are you balancing that mix of flight and family? Any moments that really captured what this chapter feels like? (i.e. funny IG video of Tim kicking Claire accidentally on head).

Flying with my sons brings a whole new team spirit. In the sky, we’re teammates, on the ground, a family. A very special moment for me was our first training jump together in DeLand in April 2025. I had jumped individually with them before, but suddenly being part of a team—jumping together—and doing so with AIRBUS 4-way, no less, was priceless. And then to stand together on the podium at the German Championships—on top of it in first place… incredible. I feel truly privileged!

Was this “family era” something you’d always envisioned or did it unfold naturally?

To be honest, I never planned for this “family era.” I knew Tim was eager to get into 4-way. He already jumped in a AAA class team at German Nationals 2024, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

Tim spent seven months in DeLand doing flight school etc. in 2024. When AIRBUS held a camp there in April, he helped us out on video for a week—despite having no camera experience. He did an outstanding job, and it really showed me what a talented flyer he is.

Unfortunately, we had to make a quick decision right after the 2024 German Championships when we had problems with our camera flyer. As we knew Tim was available and he did a great job in April, we decided, on very short notice, to bring him in as our video flyer for the World Meet 2024 in the U.S.

That was the beginning. After the World Meet, we agreed Tim would step into the lineup as a performer. At the beginning of 2025, Moritz joined as our new camera flyer—also with no prior experience. It felt like an experiment at first, but it has gone extremely well so far.

“No one carries the team alone. Trust, friendship, and consistency — that’s the secret.”

What’s been your proudest moment with AIRBUS so far—on or off the comp/training scene?

That’s a tough question – there have been quite a few proud moments!

• My first German Nationals win in 4-way back in 2014 was definitely special.
• But honestly, the year before might have been just as memorable: we finished second, losing by only one single point after 10 rounds. It was incredibly hard emotionally at the time, but looking back, it was one of the best experiences I’ve had—it really shaped my mindset as an athlete.
• Winning Nationals again in 2021 with a new lineup was another highlight. We were three points down after round nine, but came back strong and beat the other team by ten points in the final round—it was unbelievable.
• Then came the bronze medal at the European Championships in Voss in 2023, which was a big milestone for us internationally.
• And finally, winning German Nationals with the new lineup—together with my sons—was just indescribable. That one tops the list emotionally. I hope there are still a few more proud moments to come!

Is there a lesson or mantra that’s been passed down through the AIRBUS team over the years—something every new member picks up quickly or needs to live by?

Yes, definitely. Over the years, one core lesson has remained the same: teamwork comes first—always. No matter how talented an individual may be, success in 4-way skydiving only happens when everyone is fully committed to the team. Every new member quickly learns that mutual trust, open communication, friendship, and consistency are the real strengths of AIRBUS 4-Way. We also choose our team members based on these values—along with talent, of course.

What do you hope this new generation of AIRBUS carries forward, and what do you hope they make their own?

I hope the new generation carries forward the core values that have always defined AIRBUS 4-Way—team spirit, trust, and the drive to constantly improve. Those principles built the foundation of everything we’ve achieved.

At the same time, I want them to make their own mark. They should bring fresh energy, new ideas, and their own style of teamwork. Every generation should add something unique to the legacy. If they can keep that balance between tradition and innovation, the future of AIRBUS 4-Way will be in very good hands.

If you could describe the current team in three words, what would they be and why?

I would describe the current AIRBUS 4-Way team as determined, open-minded, and fun-loving.

Determined, because every member is focused on improving and shares the same big goal. Open-minded, because we’re always willing to try new things and techniques, which fuels our creativity and drives us to get better. And fun-loving, because as a Weekend Warrior team, enjoying what we do is a key part of performing well and keeping our team spirit strong.

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