Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
One of the world's best parachute teams is scheduled to perform at Lackland's Airfest Nov. 4 and 5.
The United States Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, will carry out precision aerial maneuvers while falling to earth at speeds reaching 120 miles per hour, then land dead center on target.
For the last fifty years, the Golden Knights have been entertaining people with their aerial skills. The men and women that make up the elite team continue their pursuit of perfection in the sport of skydiving while remaining a symbol of valor, honor and courage.
"This is our third show with the Golden Knights, and each time they awe the crowd with their incredible, highly-skilled, precison, parachute jump demonstration team. We're glad they're back to thrill us and head our show with the Air Force Thunderbirds," said Lt. Col. Andy Sanchez, AirFest director.
Stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., the 90 soldiers that make up the Golden Knights come from many diverse backgrounds and have been trained in one of the 200 military occupational specialties the Army offers.
In addition to meeting the public at air shows, the Golden Knights also reach the community through their Tandem Orientation program.
The tandem team flies all over the United States and the world, escorting community influencers safely to the ground in order to give them a taste of Army professionalism. The year, KSAT-TV morning meteorologist Mike Osterhage will tandem jump at the practice show Friday.
The practice session is closed to the public and by invitation only to accommodate groups with special needs.
The practice show will entertain families from Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald Houses, as well as local military retirement communities and students from area high schools.
The Soldiers are divided into six groups: The Black and Gold Demonstration Teams, the Formation Skydiving Team, the Style and Accuracy Team, an aviation section and a headquarters section.
The Black and Gold Demonstration Teams spend more than 230 days a year entertaining more than 12 million people at air shows and special events around the country and the world. The teams have performed more than 8,500 live aerial demonstrations in all 50 states and nearly 50 countries, earning them the title of the Army's Goodwill Ambassadors to the World.
Just as incredible as the demonstration teams are the two parachute competition teams: The Formation Skydiving Team and the Style and Accuracy Team. The teams tour the world competing in parachuting competitions and amazing the parachuting world with their record of 408 national champions, 65 world champions, and 14 national and six world team titles in formation skydiving.
In addition to those accomplishments, they also claim the only six-time world champion parachutist in formation skydiving and the only three consecutive time national champion parachutist in style and accuracy parachuting. These impressive feats have made them not only the most-winning Department of Defense sports team, but also the most-winning parachute team in the world.
The AirFest takes place at Kelly Field. It is free and open to the general public. Gates open at 9 a.m. both days. Spectators are asked not to bring ice chests, backpacks, large bags, alcohol, skates, skateboards, rollerblades, and pets, with the exception of dogs for the medically-impaired. Weapons are prohibited on federal installations.
For more information, go to www.lackland.af.mil/airshow.
(Information compiled from Army News Service and Golden Knights media release.)