Texas man jumps 500 times to break record

WISE COUNTY, Texas (CNN) -- - A Texas man jumped into the record book by jumping out of planes 500 times in less than 24-hours at a small airport northwest of Ft. Worth, Texas.

Mike Zang, 31, started his parachute jumps Friday night and kept going through Saturday, averaging a jump about every three minutes.

VIDEO Michael Zang made 500 consecutive jumps in a 24 hour period, setting a new world record last friday (May 20) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    RESOURCES Most parachute jumps in 24 hours (from Guinness World Records)

His efforts were almost derailed by plane mechanical problems, lightning and heavy rain. He also banged-up his knee and leg just a few dozen jumps from breaking the record and thought he would not make it.

"We hit 490 ... I wanted to quit, but these guys kept pushing. They said, 'you're out here to do 500,' and we did all 500 of them," Zang said.

Pilot Tom Bishop also believes he set a new world record for the most takeoffs and landings.

According to "Guinness World Records," the previous record is 476 parachute jumps in 24 hours, set in Yuma, Arizona, on November 13, 1999 by Jay Stokes.

Both record-setters used their efforts to raise money for the Special Olympics.

CNN Dallas, Texas, affiliate WFAA contributed to this report