Comments on: Black Team Lights up “Rhythm and Booms” http://armygk.com/2010/07/black-team-lights-up-rhythm-and-booms/ Welcome to the Online Home of the US Army Parachute Team Tue, 24 May 2011 13:04:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Mark Synowiec http://armygk.com/2010/07/black-team-lights-up-rhythm-and-booms/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Mark Synowiec Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:08:51 +0000 http://armygk.com/?p=1484#comment-87 Hey Rachel, Thanks for all of your updates. You guys put on a great show. I have a couple of questions for you about some of the past jumps the Black team has done recently. If you could contact me at the email I entered or my site, that would be great. PS- People just can't believe my story of flying for the first time with you guys at Janesville! Thanks, Mark Hey Rachel,

Thanks for all of your updates. You guys put on a great show. I have a couple of questions for you about some of the past jumps the Black team has done recently. If you could contact me at the email I entered or my site, that would be great.

PS- People just can’t believe my story of flying for the first time with you guys at Janesville!

Thanks,
Mark

]]> By: Rachel Medley http://armygk.com/2010/07/black-team-lights-up-rhythm-and-booms/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Rachel Medley Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:13:05 +0000 http://armygk.com/?p=1484#comment-86 Dear Debra, Thanks so much for your concern about our jumpers! There were no parachute malfunctions or mishaps during the show in Madison...in fact, parachute emergencies are EXTREMELY rare in the sport, particularly for the Golden Knights. Our equipment is checked and rechecked, and we undergo extensive, rigorous training continuously throughout the show season to perfect our skills. One possible explanation for what you saw is this: there are different types of parachutes used by the Golden Knights, depending on the particular mission at hand, and in Madison we used two types. Most of the jumpers were using accuracy canopies, and one jumper was using a smaller canopy since she was shooting video of the formation. The larger accuracy canopies open more quickly, and the smaller canopy opens much slower, and this slow opening sometimes appears like a malfunction, inspiring letters of concern such as yours! There is absolutely nothing to worry about though...the team videographers have thousands of jumps and years of experience, as well as the best equipment money can buy and more training than you can imagine. We enjoyed Madison immensely, and can't wait to return next year. Thanks for your support! -Rachel Medley (Black Demonstration Team videographer and demonstrator) Dear Debra,

Thanks so much for your concern about our jumpers! There were no parachute malfunctions or mishaps during the show in Madison…in fact, parachute emergencies are EXTREMELY rare in the sport, particularly for the Golden Knights. Our equipment is checked and rechecked, and we undergo extensive, rigorous training continuously throughout the show season to perfect our skills. One possible explanation for what you saw is this: there are different types of parachutes used by the Golden Knights, depending on the particular mission at hand, and in Madison we used two types. Most of the jumpers were using accuracy canopies, and one jumper was using a smaller canopy since she was shooting video of the formation. The larger accuracy canopies open more quickly, and the smaller canopy opens much slower, and this slow opening sometimes appears like a malfunction, inspiring letters of concern such as yours! There is absolutely nothing to worry about though…the team videographers have thousands of jumps and years of experience, as well as the best equipment money can buy and more training than you can imagine.

We enjoyed Madison immensely, and can’t wait to return next year. Thanks for your support!

-Rachel Medley (Black Demonstration Team videographer and demonstrator)

]]> By: Debra Hamilton http://armygk.com/2010/07/black-team-lights-up-rhythm-and-booms/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Debra Hamilton Mon, 05 Jul 2010 02:36:44 +0000 http://armygk.com/?p=1484#comment-83 I also want to thank the team for serving our country! The show was amazing, but also quite frightening. One of the parachuters in the second show seemed to be free falling in the air with a tangled parachute. Was this part of the show??? I honestly can't remember the last time I was that horrified. We really thought the parachuter was going to die until it seemed as though he again regained control (back up parachute?). We were still worried though, as it appeared that he didn't get the second chute open in time. Please let us know if we are totally off base, we thought for sure we would hear something in the news. Take Care! I also want to thank the team for serving our country! The show was amazing, but also quite frightening. One of the parachuters in the second show seemed to be free falling in the air with a tangled parachute. Was this part of the show??? I honestly can’t remember the last time I was that horrified. We really thought the parachuter was going to die until it seemed as though he again regained control (back up parachute?). We were still worried though, as it appeared that he didn’t get the second chute open in time. Please let us know if we are totally off base, we thought for sure we would hear something in the news. Take Care!

]]> By: Beth Vandertie http://armygk.com/2010/07/black-team-lights-up-rhythm-and-booms/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Beth Vandertie Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:43:57 +0000 http://armygk.com/?p=1484#comment-82 I just want to take a moment to thank the Black Team for coming to Rhythm and Booms in Madison, WI. I was one of the 250,000 who saw both shows. The team was just amazing. I have such respect for what our military men and women do on a daily basis. This team just raised it to another level. The people of the country may not always say how much we appreaciate what you do, but I hope the team realized tonight that we do. Thank you, Beth Vandertie I just want to take a moment to thank the Black Team for coming to Rhythm and Booms in Madison, WI. I was one of the 250,000 who saw both shows. The team was just amazing. I have such respect for what our military men and women do on a daily basis. This team just raised it to another level. The people of the country may not always say how much we appreaciate what you do, but I hope the team realized tonight that we do.

Thank you,
Beth Vandertie

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