The Golden Lions Scottish Infantry Parachute Display Team
The Golden Lions Scottish Infantry Parachute Display Team members are volunteers from the 5 regular Battalions and the 2 TA Battalions of The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The full team is made up of 12 soldiers with 2 to 5 man display jump teams. From their base at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh the team jump all over Scotland to promote the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
To become a member of The Golden Lions Scottish Infantry Parachute Display Team, each soldier has to pass a rigorous selection course followed by 6-12 months free fall parachute training, completing a minimum of 200 jumps before being awarded their “Display Licence.” They then have to complete The Golden Lions display training to ensure that they are up to the professional high standard required of all team members so that they can take part in displays safely.
During a display, providing the cloud base is high enough and the wind speeds are favourable, the jump team will exit the aircraft at 7,000 feet. At least one member of the team will freefall at speeds of up to 120 mph (“Terminal Velocity”) and deploy his parachute at 3,000 feet. The rest of the team with deploy their parachutes immediately on exiting the aircraft and will carry out Canopy Relative Work, which requires a high degree of skill. This is where it looks like the Golden Lions are joining their parachutes together in different configurations. They will then deploy a large Scottish flag, which is attached to the waist of a team member and provides a spectacular show. (Flags can be made to order for any sponsors – as advertisement and flown by the team at any display). The team members will then descend while carrying out various manoeuvres and land in the designated area – hopefully to rapturous applause!
Each Golden Lion leaves the aircraft at up to 7,000 feet above ground level with approximately £3,000 worth of parachute equipment strapped to his back. The parachutes used by the team are “Triathlons” which are American designed advanced technology ram-air canopies which when controlled by an experienced jumper provides forward speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. They can also brake, drop vertically and even travel backwards when flown by these experienced parachutists. In addition to their large, golden, square-shaped main parachutes, all team members jump with reserve parachutes, which in the unlikely event of a malfunction will still enable a safe landing in the arena.
Since their formation, in 1969, the Golden Lions have made notable achievements within the parachuting world. They are the former Army champions in Canopy Formation, former overall Army champions and current Scottish National champions. The team is also well known for their team accuracy. They still hold the United Kingdom Altitude Landing Record by dropping onto the top of the Cairngorms (4,084ft). It takes a great deal of skill and experience to exit a perfectly functioning aircraft at 2 miles high and then land in a confined space but The Golden Lions Scottish Infantry Parachute Display Team make it look easy!
The Golden Lions are available for displays anywhere (providing there is a big enough landing area, 75m X 75m or 100 x 50m) and at anytime of the year at very competitive prices.
To become a member of The Golden Lions Scottish Infantry Parachute Display Team, each soldier has to pass a rigorous selection course followed by 6-12 months free fall parachute training, completing a minimum of 200 jumps before being awarded their “Display Licence.” They then have to complete The Golden Lions display training to ensure that they are up to the professional high standard required of all team members so that they can take part in displays safely.
During a display, providing the cloud base is high enough and the wind speeds are favourable, the jump team will exit the aircraft at 7,000 feet. At least one member of the team will freefall at speeds of up to 120 mph (“Terminal Velocity”) and deploy his parachute at 3,000 feet. The rest of the team with deploy their parachutes immediately on exiting the aircraft and will carry out Canopy Relative Work, which requires a high degree of skill. This is where it looks like the Golden Lions are joining their parachutes together in different configurations. They will then deploy a large Scottish flag, which is attached to the waist of a team member and provides a spectacular show. (Flags can be made to order for any sponsors – as advertisement and flown by the team at any display). The team members will then descend while carrying out various manoeuvres and land in the designated area – hopefully to rapturous applause!
Each Golden Lion leaves the aircraft at up to 7,000 feet above ground level with approximately £3,000 worth of parachute equipment strapped to his back. The parachutes used by the team are “Triathlons” which are American designed advanced technology ram-air canopies which when controlled by an experienced jumper provides forward speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. They can also brake, drop vertically and even travel backwards when flown by these experienced parachutists. In addition to their large, golden, square-shaped main parachutes, all team members jump with reserve parachutes, which in the unlikely event of a malfunction will still enable a safe landing in the arena.
Since their formation, in 1969, the Golden Lions have made notable achievements within the parachuting world. They are the former Army champions in Canopy Formation, former overall Army champions and current Scottish National champions. The team is also well known for their team accuracy. They still hold the United Kingdom Altitude Landing Record by dropping onto the top of the Cairngorms (4,084ft). It takes a great deal of skill and experience to exit a perfectly functioning aircraft at 2 miles high and then land in a confined space but The Golden Lions Scottish Infantry Parachute Display Team make it look easy!
The Golden Lions are available for displays anywhere (providing there is a big enough landing area, 75m X 75m or 100 x 50m) and at anytime of the year at very competitive prices.