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75 Years FEATURED DEMONSTRATION 13April 2 & 3, 2016
of Airpower
Champions of the skies:
The Golden Knights
Golden Knights are Army Soldiers first, but ment announced the STRAC team would become
they also have a unique history and creed that the United States Army Parachute Team.
sets them apart.
By 1962, the team earned the nickname the
History “Golden Knights.” Golden signified the gold
medals the team had won while Knights alluded
In 1959, 19 Airborne Soldiers from various to the team’s ambition to conquer the skies.
military units formed the Strategic Army Com-
mand Parachute Team (STRAC). Brig. Gen. Jo- Since then, the Golden Knights have conduct-
seph Stilwell Jr. gathered the Soldiers with the ed more than 16,000 shows in 50 states and 48
intent of competing in the relatively new sport countries, reaching an average of 60,000 people
of skydiving, which at that time was dominated per show. The team has earned the U.S. Army
by the Soviet Union. That year, the U.S. Army 2,148 gold, 1,117 silver, and 693 bronze medals
team began representing the United States on in national and international competition. Team
the international competition circuit, and per- members have also broken 348 world records.
formed their first demonstration in Danville,
Virginia. Two years later, the Defense Depart- The Golden Knights are one of only three
DOD-sanctioned aerial demonstration teams,
along with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the &RXUWHV\SKRWRV
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The team is com-
posed of approximately 95 men and women,
which includes four parachute units, an avia-
tion unit and a headquarters. The demonstra-
tion teams, which use five dedicated aircraft,
perform at more than 100 events per year. The
tandem section is known for taking Soldiers,
celebrities and heads of state on jumps, and the
competition section focuses on winning national
and international skydiving events.
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