Cheryl Stearns

Cheryl Stearns is one of the most accomplished figures in skydiving and aviation, with a career that has spanned over five decades and includes numerous world records, championships, and prestigious awards. Starting her skydiving journey at the age of 17 in Arizona, Cheryl’s passion for both flying and skydiving became the cornerstone of her remarkable life.

After graduating from Scottsdale Community College, Cheryl moved to North Carolina to train under Gene Paul Thacker, a renowned skydiving coach. Her early focus on the “classic” skydiving disciplines of style and accuracy led to her first national championship in 1976. She went on to set a world record in accuracy the same year and became the first female member of the U.S. Army’s elite parachute team, the Golden Knights. Cheryl served two tours with the Golden Knights, performing high-profile demonstration jumps, including one onto the Statue of Liberty grounds.

In competitive skydiving, Cheryl has achieved tremendous success, winning two overall world championships (1978, 1994) and 33 national championships. She set 30 world records in skydiving, at one point holding four world records simultaneously. Cheryl’s impact on the sport is further solidified by her Guinness World Record for the most parachute jumps by a woman in 24 hours—352 jumps in 1995, hitting the target 188 times during the endurance test​.

Cheryl’s contributions to skydiving have earned her numerous accolades, including the Diplome Leonardo da Vinci, the highest award in aerosports, and induction into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame in 2010. She was also honored with the Amelia Earhart Pioneering Achievement Award in 2007, the Wiley Post Spirit Award in 2005, and the USPA Gold Medal for Meritorious Service in 2022. In 2022, she received the Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Stateswoman of Aviation Award from the National Aeronautic Association for her lifelong contributions to aviation and skydiving.

In addition to her skydiving career, Cheryl excelled as a commercial airline pilot, logging over 26,000 flight hours across 75 types of aircraft. She holds degrees in Aviation Administration and Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and continues to share her expertise by mentoring cadets in the Civil Air Patrol and performing demonstration jumps with the Children of Fallen Heroes team​.

Cheryl Stearns’ relentless drive, both in the air and in the skies, has cemented her legacy as one of the most influential figures in the world of skydiving and aviation.