Golden Knights set to appear at Grissom air show

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Courtney Dotson-Essett
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs

The U.S. Army aerial demonstration team, The Golden Knights, is scheduled to appear September 7-8 at Grissom’s Air and Space Expo.

The Golden Knights are one of three Depart of Defense-sanctioned aerial demonstration teams, along with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

“They’re the Army’s premier parachute team,” said Doug Hays, 434th Public Affairs Operations chief. “We’re excited to have them come to our air show.” 

The Fort Bragg, North Carolina-based team is comprised of approximately 95 men and women that include enlisted, officer and civilian personnel. The soldiers have been trained in one of the Army’s military occupational fields and serve with the Golden Knights for three years.

The team has four parachute units, a tandem team, an aviation unit and a headquarters.

It uses five dedicated aircraft to perform at both domestic and international events.

Since 1962 the Golden Knights have performed in more than 16,000 shows. They’ve earned the Army more than 400 national championships and more than 60 world championships.

Their appearance at Grissom will be one of many events on the team’s schedule for 2019.

“Anytime we have the Air Force’s premier team and the Army’s premier team, it’s a great opportunity for us to showcase Grissom,” Hays said.  

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

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