Thunder over the rock - Paratroopers

Little rock AFB airshow

[@reason1925]

It was truly an honor to watch this. One of the best parts, of the best airshows, I have ever seen. Hats off to LRAFB, the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and any who worked to make that day possible. My family will remain forever in your debt, for not only that magical day, but also for all the other days you serve.

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

I did this kind of jump into Andrews AFB airshow in the early 90’s. It was some fool officers idea we form up and run in the grass between active runway and the taxiway. Then we loaded right back up in the C-130’s and flew back to Pope. Now I knew why nobody EVER volunteered for these airshow jumps haha

[@georgewashington938]

a thing of beauty. one bad thing about jumping into an airfield is the possibility of landing on the runway (ouch)

[@klk1900]

I suddenly realized a while back. The reason you don’t hear screaming and cheering at air shows or events like when I was a kid. It’s because today everyone has a camera and they are focused on videoing! Anyone who makes videos is hardwired not to make noise or sounds you will have to edit out later. So I know it sounds like enthusiasm is dead! But really it’s just the opposite. My fear is the psychological impact on performers is not good. They start feeling awkward and unappreciated when nobody cheers. So just realize it’s because people are videoing to enjoy it later as well so don’t take silence the wrong way.

[@richardstevens3261]

Sorry for a late but sincere thank you for posting this. Our son was one of the soldiers in the jump. We were unable to attend as the drop, originally set for Saturday was rescheduled for Sunday not allowing us sufficient time to get home for Monday work. We are able with the information he provided afterward to identify him jumping. 10th jumper, 3rd plane. This group deploys in June. I have saved it and watch parodically. Proud Dad.

[@forrestsmith9235]

Back in the Eighties I went through IDF jump school and maybe I was asleep when they told us the jump AGL so I was Jumper #2 and couldnt see out the door but when I exited and got a good csnopy, I looked down and could see the expressions on the faces of the people on the DZ and realized IDF tactical jumps are at 750AGL and at 215#, I got less than 30 second canopy ride. Did a lousy PLF but fortunately, the DZ was deep sand.

[@glennspellman5929]

I don't want to nitpick but this wasn't from 800 ft more like 1250 AGL. They wouldn't have been in the air for as long as they were if it was from 800. 800 ft usually saved for tactical training jumps.

[@narc46]

Yeah, I have done two of these air show demo jumps both from C-141's. One jump in Charleston and one in DC both from 1250. They were nice in that they were daylight jumps and we only jumped weapons, no rucks for the air show. The downside was the unlucky jumpers that landed on the concrete or hit obstacles on the airport. One of my buddies broke his back when he hit some kind of radar antenna.

[@klk1900]

I assume they would jump higher for entertainment factor. Most people wanna see tons of chutes hanging in the sky. They don’t pay attention to the decent rate. T-10C: 7.3m/s or 24 Feet Per Second T-11: 5.8m/s or Designed for 19 Feet Per Second decent.

[@klk1900]

Btw your observation is correct. from my view the first jumpers left at 0:47 seconds and a couple heavier ones started reaching the ground at 1:43 but the bulk was @1:50-2:00 min. The T-11 was designed for 19 Feet per second or 1,140 Feet per minute for the 95th percentile group. So based on those times it had to be more like 1250’ / 19 = 65 seconds for 95% of soldiers. 1000’ = 52 seconds 1500’ = 78 seconds. +/- a few for the free fall time.

[@klk1900]

T-10C: 7.3m/s or 24 FT/Second decent. Or 1,440 FEET PER MINUTE. T-11: 5.8m/s or 19 FT/Second decent rate. Or 1,140 FT/MIN The T-10 was extremely painful to jump. I remember our biggest fear was landing. So much so guys would make mistakes in the air because they were consumed by the landing instead of thinking about line hand off, jumping, Chute check etc