JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Flying out from Mayport, the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team took part in the Jacksonville Sea and Sky Air Show, coordinating a routine with 11 jumpers.
The Golden Knights, originally founded in 1959 and given their nickname in 1962, have performed over 16,000 shows across all 50 states and 48 countries, averaging 60,000 people per show.
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Daniel Gerlach describes his job as routine, and said that his team particularly enjoys beach landings.
"I like to tell people it's just another day at work for me," Gerlach said. "I mean, with the nice view from the office. But for me I love doing beach jumps cause, one, the landing is very soft, especially on a beach. But the crowd just absolutely loves it."
Gerlach and the other jumpers on his team ascend to an altitude of over 12,000 feet, although that can be lower depending on the height of the clouds. From there, the first jumper, or "narrator," jumps first, later followed by the other 10 jumpers after the plane does a dry pass.
"I just kind of keep my head in the game and focused 100 percent of the time," Gerlach said.
The Golden Knights are one of only three air demonstration teams sanctioned by the Department of Defense, along with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
The plane carrying the team took off around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, with a planned jump for noon.
"The idea of jumping from 12,500 feet and landing in a 100 x 100-foot box and an even smaller 15-foot target, dead center every time, it wows the crowd," Gerlach said.
