Display Teams
by Lt Cdr Dave Lee RN, Royal Navy Parachute Display Team
Most skydiving takes place on British Skydiving Affiliated Parachute Training Organisations (PTOs) on airfields known as Drop Zones.
British Skydiving Registered Display Teams can offer displays at any appropriate location where it is safe to do so. Display skydiving puts the drop zone amongst the public and allows everyone to witness the skill and commitment display skydivers have in our sport.
Many Display Teams are formed through large organisations such as the Military (the Royal Navy/Royal Marines, the various Army regiments and the Royal Air Force) as well as other bodies such as charities commercial companies. However, some teams are made up from a number of like-minded civilian enthusiasts – many British Skydiving Affiliated Parachute Training Organisations
support a display team or have a team training there permanently or from time to time.
In all cases, the result is a group of skydivers who enjoy the thrill and challenge of landing as part of a team, usually in a small landing area, avoiding the many hazards nearby. Often, they will do this for the entertainment of a crowd as part of a special event such as an outdoor fete or show, or a cultural or sporting event.
In their displays, most teams demonstrate a combination of impressive freefall and canopy skills using smoke for added visual effect and perhaps large trailing flags which can be deployed under canopy. The teams may then land for example in an arena to the applause of an excited crowd. In military displays, some teams use military aircraft and helicopters to reinforce the military theme.
To find out more about Display Skydiving, please contact a British Skydiving Registered Display Team through the links below or get in touch with any British Skydiving Affiliated Parachute Training Organisation for advice.
Links to some British Skydiving Registered Display Teams
- The Red Devils – the official parachute display team of both the Parachute Regiment and the British Army
- RLC Silver Stars Army Parachute Display Team
- The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (Army) Freefall Parachute Display Team ‘The Tigers’
- Royal Navy Parachute Display Team, the Official Parachute Display Team of the Royal Navy
- Headcorn (Kent) Parachute Display Team
- Wild Geese Parachute Display Team – Northern Ireland
- REME Lightning Bolts Army Parachute Display Team
- The Ospreys Skydive & Display Team
- Jersey (Channel Islands) Parachute Display Team
- The Wings Parachute Display Team
- The Poppy Parachute Display Team
- The Jump Dogs Display Team
See also British Skydiving Affiliated Parachute Training Organisations who may often support a display team or have a team training there permanently or from time to time.
If you are a British Skydiving Registered Display Team Organiser and would like a link to your team’s website to be included, please contact us.
Skydivers interested in training to take part in displays should ask at their local Drop Zone for further information.
