Larry Hill

Larry Hill, originally from Idaho, began his skydiving career in 1967 after a chance meeting in Germany with a skydiving roommate during his service in the Air Force. Despite initial difficulties and setbacks, Larry’s persistence paid off when he made his first jump on April 1, 1967, in Belgium, where he also met his future wife, Liliane.

After returning to the United States, Larry continued to skydive wherever he was stationed, but often found existing drop zones unsuitable for family life. This inspired him to start his own skydiving facility in 1977, the Wild Horse West Parachute Center in Phoenix, Arizona. With a $2000 loan from his brother, Larry bought a Cessna 182 and began operating the drop zone, which he later expanded to include multiple aircraft.

In 1986, Larry moved the operation to Coolidge, Arizona, renaming it Skydive Arizona. However, due to conflicts with the Air Force, he relocated the drop zone to Eloy, Arizona, in 1991. Over the years, Skydive Arizona has grown into one of the world’s largest and most renowned skydiving centers, capable of handling up to 500 skydives per hour with its fleet of aircraft, including Twin Otters, Skyvans, a Pilatus Porter, and a DC-3.

Larry’s contributions to the sport extend beyond his drop zone. He was one of the first to sponsor a serious formation skydiving team, Arizona Airspeed, which achieved multiple national and world titles. He also co-invented the OmniSkore live digital feed system used in competitions worldwide, earning him the Faust Vrančić Medal from the FAI in 2007.

Throughout his career, Larry has been dedicated to promoting and advancing skydiving. He served on the USPA Board of Directors for 22 consecutive years, the longest tenure in the board’s history, and has been involved in organizing numerous national and international skydiving events. His efforts have earned him a place in the International Skydiving Hall of Fame, a recognition he never actively sought but humbly accepted.

Larry Hill’s journey from a $2000 investment and a dream to building a skydiving empire exemplifies his passion, dedication, and significant impact on the sport of skydiving. His legacy continues through the world-class facilities and vibrant skydiving community at Skydive Arizona.