By Mass Communication Specialist 1st
Class Fletcher Gibson, U.S. Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (NNS) -- Members of the
U.S. Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, the Leap Frogs, performed at the
Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, Mo. as part of the annual "Sound
of Speed" Air Show, May 5-6.
The team performed four jumps over both
days, including one jump performed in conjunction with their Canadian skydiving
team counterparts, the SkyHawks.
Between performances, the team members took
time to meet with the crowd and give some hands-on presentations of some of
their skydiving equipment.
"It was absolutely amazing,"
said Sam Buckley, who visited the air show from Savannah, Mo. "I saw the
Leap Frogs a couple years ago, and this was even better."
This show was especially important to
the team because St. Joseph is the hometown of the 139th Airlift Wing. This Air
National Guard unit has an extended history of volunteering to assist the Leap
Frogs with transportation and jump platforms.
"Our show season wouldn't be
possible without the 139th's support," said Aircrew Survival Equipmentman
1st Class Thomas Kinn, the jumpmaster for this event. "They support over
half of our shows."
"We're extremely proud of our
relationship with the Leap Frogs," added Air Force Col. Mike Pankau, the
wing commander for the 139th. "We're grateful to have them here to show
the hometown what we do when we're out on the road supporting them."
In addition to the skydiving
demonstrations, Sound of Speed also featured both military and civilian
aircraft demonstrations and static displays. The show featured aircraft from
one-seater stunt planes to Air Force C-130 cargo aircraft, and from WWI-era
bi-planes to the ultra-modern F-22 Raptor fighter.
The Leap Frogs next scheduled
performance is May 11-13 at the Nashville Navy Week in Nashville, Tenn.
The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego
and perform aerial parachute demonstrations in support of Naval Special Warfare
and Navy recruiting.
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