Veteran skydiver Derek Murphy could not control his emotions after successfully setting a new Australian record in California last month.

The Goulburn skydiver was part of a 119-person team who travelled to Perris Valley in the United States to create the largest formation skydive ever performed by Australians.

The previous Australian record set in 2010 included 112 people.

In what he described as "the most incredible feeling", Mr Murphy and 118 other Australian skydivers linked up in freefall for a required time of three seconds.

"We needed to be in our slot, as we call it," he said.

"If we were to go to the wrong person to dock, we'd basically blow the record for the whole group."

The Australian skydivers jumped from an altitude of 19,000 feet before they joined into their linked formation. ( Supplied: Perris drop zone photography )

In an interview with 666 ABC Canberra, Mr Murphy estimated he would have skydived more than 1,600 times during his career, but the thrill remained.

"Every time the door opens on the plane, we still get a buzz," he said.

"But to take it to that next level where you're working with a team of 118 other people, the worry is that you could go too low or not dock on the right place.

"It's not fear for yourself, it's fear of letting the team down."

Mr Murphy said the record attempts required seven transport planes to take the 119 skydivers to the required altitude.

He said the record attempt had to be made in California due to the availability of the aircraft.

The record was achieved on the final jump at the end of 12 days on location in the Perris Valley and numerous unsuccessful attempts.

"There's just so much that can go wrong with getting into formation," Mr Murphy said.

"If one person takes the wrong arm grip or leg grip, or somebody is low in the formation, well it's judged quite harshly."

The Australian record required seven transport planes to take the 119 skydivers to 19,000 feet above the Perris Valley in California. ( Supplied: Perris drop zone photography )

The skydivers spent three years training in smaller groups in Australia, before coming together in California to attempt the record.

"We learnt to fly our slots and to get into a formation, take a grip in a proper controlled manner and just be very professional about what we're doing," Mr Murphy said.

To make the successful jump, the skydivers flew into formation at a rate of about 200 kilometres per hour from an altitude of 19,000 feet.

"We had a fairly good opportunity to fly our bodies in that wind, but you've only got to turn the wrong way at the wrong time and you just won't be ready in your spot," Mr Murphy said.

"The pressure was very stressful.

"The following three hours after we landed, I kept bursting into tears. I consider myself to be very hard at times, but there's times when you just can't control your emotions."