Somewhere near Fort Bragg, NC: It was late that 16 MAR 2009 day, as I sat watching the formation teams practice in this vertical wind tunnel chamber – weightless maneuvers with the 11 humongous-horsepower fans that kept them aloft… As they went through their routines to collectively form as many different geometric shapes in the less than a minute of time that they had, I sensed there was more to this entire unit than a few Soldiers who decided it would be something different to jump free-fall out of a airplane.
It intrigued me – immensely!
I sat there and LTC Tony Dill, the commander of this elite unit appeared and he was pleasantly surprised that this late in the day I was still here… seems all the major media headed back to file their stories of the events earlier in the day. I just wondered how much they really knew about the Golden Knights and the Soldiers who comprised this unit. I had spent some time exploring their website and found among them Soldiers who were Special Forces & Rangers, but also Helicopter mechanics & Medics, they came from all over the United States… the common theme was that they were AIRBORNE qualified and loved the US ARMY. Can’t ask for a better combination.
Back to LTC Dill and me, I asked if I could spend more time with the unit, since I saw something that needed to be shared, a story of how these men & women are risking their lives (it’s still dangerous jumping out of a perfectly good airplane at 5, 10, 13 thousand feet… despite all the fail-safes and precautions that are taken. So each of these Soldiers puts their lives on the line up to several times a week to show the public a skill that I later learn transfers very well to the rest of the US Army.) My request to spend time with the Golden Knights was welcomed and I asked if I could get access to the team when they came to the Washington, DC area – the Andrews AFB Joint Service Airshow in MAY. This additional request was also welcomed and an airplane ride was offered much to my surprise!
The following day, I carried out another mission as I got acceptance of the notecards I had designed from the Golden Knights SSI (Shoulder Sleeve Insignia – though few of them wear the insignia on their shoulder.) – The notecards (along with other designs) are now for sale at the Airborne Special Operations Museum in Faytetteville, NC. I then responded to CPT Funderburk that the notecards were now available to the public and Thank you for the great warm hospitality while I was visiting.
Back to the story…
As the weekend of the Joint Forces Air Show approached, I hadn’t heard about how I would connect with the Golden Knights. Then Saturday 16 MAY, my cell phone had a voicemail on it from LTC Dill … the next day I was at Andrews AFB heading toward a rather wonderful “Golden Knights” aircraft… (I’ve learned that the airplane is the Golden Knights’ home-away-from-home = they spend about 42 weekends – and many weekdays away from their home base at Fort Bragg… and I thought I traveled a lot when I worked for Corporate America!)
I was escorted aboard and as I got strapped in, I watched as several of t
he Golden Knights reviewed and walked through what they were going to do in the air, right there on the ground (the US Army is always “On the Mission!”) They may have done this hundreds of times before, but again they made sure it was going to be perfect.
They next huddled and went through what I later found out was a ritual that has evolved over time… They then boarded the airplane and began donning their jump-suits – then the parachutes and harnesses went on then another series of staging practices occurred at each of the doors (they take such pride in their work!)
As final preparations were being made for takeoff… a very smooth takeoff mind you! they continued to prepare for their jump as more equipment was …. along with other necessary gear – gloves, altimeter, a final check of the parachutes.
All this happening while the airplane headed for 12,500 Feet above the Washington, DC area (the Washington Monument looked like a matchstick rising out of the ground!) It had rained the night before and there were still clouds lingering in the skies. As we went higher and higher, we lost 3 degrees of temperature for every 1,000 feet we climbed. Gloves! Need gloves since the brisk winds as the doors were open seemed to keep it cooler.
They even have their own camera man – who takes photos with his camera strapped to his helmet!
TO BE CONTINUED…
Yes, I’m leaving you up in the air…
… don’t they call that a
“cliff hanger?”
Posted 2 years, 8 months ago at 1:52 am. Add a comment
It all began in March, the 16th, I traveled to North Carolina to participate in the Golden Anniversary kick-off event – 50 years of the US Army’s Parachute Team at their headquarters on Fort Bragg.
There are several teams among the unit that focus on different aspects of parachuting. The most visible are the BLACK & GOLD demonstration teams that criss-cross the United States spending 42 weekends (and during the week as I later found out) parachuting and drop into airshows, sports stadiums and well, other places that they’ve been requested to appear.
There are also the competition teams that include freefall formation, style accuracy and canopy piloting. The tandem team allows VIPs who have never parachuted to experience and enjoy the safe “jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.” – something which I’ll probably get the opportunity to also experience.
I was truly excited about the opportunity, since it’s not often that milestones such as this are reached, yet here I was taking in a bit of history among one of the US Army’s elite units. The weather was iffy, in fact it rained, rained hard… and much of the activity was moved indoors among the floor to ceiling display cases of the numerous awards, medals, plaques, and more that the team has garnered over the years. That was somewhat bittersweet, since there would be no parachute jump today. I was a bit disappointed, especially since their Operations Officer was going out of his way to shuttle me over to the airplane where the part of the team was originating.
They say that every dark rain cloud has a silver lining… as all the photographers & media people were posted on one side of the auditorium where the ceremony was held, again I was offered a true courtesy and allowed to move to the other side of the room just several feet from the podium where all the action was happening… Not only did I get a great vantage point to capture some great photos, I also got to meet the Secretary of the Army, Honorable Pete Geren.
The auditorium was standing room only and
LTC Tony Dill, Commander of the Golden Knights orchestrated a fantastic ceremony highlighted by remembering two of the Golden Knights – revealed busts of two alumni — Medal of Honor recipient Chief Warrant Officer Michael J.
Novosel, who had been chief pilot for the Golden Knights and Sgt. 1st Class Pedro A. Munoz, who had given his life in the defense of the US.
Also the unveiling of the 50th Anniversary Golden Knights SSI and commemorating words by the Secretary of the Army, the President of the Golden Knights Association and finally the ceremonial swords cutting into the cakes for this milestone.
The weather kept us indoors and I explored maintaining my “Ask Big Questions…” so I was exposed to many things while there. One of which was a demonstration by MSG Hendricks accompanied by SGT Woosley of the intricacies of parachutes and how they’re packed (the Golden Knights pack their own!) It was truly amazing to see all that appeared on the floor, neatly disappear back into the pack
Afterwards, I’d learned the style accuracy competition team has as part of their challenge – to land on a disk and spike a small 3 centimeter dot in the center with the spike on the heel of their shoe. Since it was done so often, the judges “reduced” the dot to TWO centimeters.
Later in the day, I went to the “vertical wind tunnel” off post and watched as the formation team practiced their maneuvers in what was a chamber where they were able to fly like eagles.
Little did I know that this was just the beginning of what would be a great week spent in May…
Posted 2 years, 8 months ago at 11:00 pm. Add a comment
BLACK TEAM : ESL International Airshow, Rochester, NY
GOLD TEAM: Southern Wisconsin Airfest, Janesville, WI
Posted 2 years, 8 months ago at 11:06 am. Add a comment
BLACK TEAM – Branson Airshow, MO
Posted 2 years, 9 months ago at 2:25 pm. Add a comment
BLACK TEAM = New Orleans, LA
GOLD TEAM = Robbins AFB Open house, Warner Robbins, GA
Posted 2 years, 9 months ago at 10:11 am. Add a comment
Black Team – Sun-N-Fun, Lakeland, FL
Gold Team – Wings Over Wayne, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
Posted 2 years, 9 months ago at 6:23 am. Add a comment
A Sincere Thank You to COL Fenzel, LTC Dill, MAJ Bean, SGM Eitniear, CPT Funderburk and ALL of the US Army Golden Knights for a wonderful day and their warm hospitality on my recent trip Fort Bragg to participate in the Golden Knights 50th Anniversary Celebration!
Despite the liquid sunshine that moved us indoors, it was a great tribute to the men and women who are the US Army’s elite team who command the skies with their skillful manuevers.
I was totally in awe when I entered their headquarters to see the case after case of trophys, plaques and awards that the Golden Knights have earned over the years. I’ve learned that there are many more not on display. These talented soldiers are the US Army’s ambassadors who come to visit after jumping out of an airplane from thousands of feet … some who actually hit a 3 centimeter (now TWO!) target from this free fall thru the sky.
There’s more to learn about the Golden Knights and I look forward to spending some time with them real soon…
Now the great news….
Many of you know that I produce US Arny heraldry cards with the unit insignia and significant information on the back of the card. Many of you have them, a few have had them personalized. For this event with the Golden Knights, I decided it was appropriate to craft and design a card for them and bring them as gifts (personalized of course) for a few of those I would meet.
But the great news is that the GOLDEN KNIGHTS’ notecards are now available for sale at the Airborne Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayettville, NC
– Mission Accomplished LTC Dill!
Some More Great News…
I had the pleasure and opportunity to meet the Hon Pete Geren, Secretary of the Army while I was in Fayetteville and he is now the proud owner of the first ever regimental calendar – “The Old Guard on Parade – 2009″
And finally, I am proud to say that my heraldry cards are now on sale at THREE museum giftshops in the Fayetteville, NC area.
Posted 2 years, 10 months ago at 10:41 pm. Add a comment
he Golden Knights reviewed and walked through what they were going to do in the air, right there on the ground (the US Army is always “On the Mission!”) They may have done this hundreds of times before, but again they made sure it was going to be perfect.
