Golden Knights perform for Walter Reed patients

ARNEWS ^ | May 20, 2005 | Bernard S. Little

[AZHua87]

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 20, 2005) – As a prelude to this weekend’s Armed Forces Day events, the U.S. Army Parachute Team, “Golden Knights,” jumped in on Walter Reed Army Medical Center May 19.

Patients, staff and neighbors cheered on the Golden Knights’ Black Team, who do their best work at 12,500 feet above the earth’s surface, racing to the ground at speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour. About 200 people were at the noon performance.

The Golden Knights are in Washington this weekend for the Joint Service Open House at Andrews Air Force Base where they are also pe....

[AZHua87]

Vetts and Wounded honored.

[SamAdams76]

At 120 mph, that's two miles a minute. Not much room for error from just 12,500 feet up. Jump out of a plane from that height and you'd better pull your ripcord within 90 seconds or you are dead.

[AZHua87]

or someone else will be singing Blood in the Risers.

[Wings-n-Wind]

Courtesy info only...

With 9-10 seconds to achieve terminal velocity (+/- 125mph), and allowing an average 2,500 altitude safety cushion -- average free fall time from 12,500 AGL is 60 seconds.

Our college club used to use "standard" above ground altitudes for specific free fall times:
2800-3000' -- "Hop-n-Pop" (5 seconds)
3500' - 10 seconds free fall
4500' - 15 seconds free fall
7500' - 30 seconds free fall
10000' - 45 seconds free fall
12,500 - 60 seconds free fall

All of the above left 2000-2500' which permitted time for a main chute malfunction, cutaway procedure, and reserve chute deployment.

I am not sure how Batman does this with only a cape and no superpowers.... hmmmm

Have a nice day...
Wings

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!