THE RAF put on a spectacular display when their Parachute Display Team landed on Weymouth Beach before spending time showing the public their parachute equipment.
The RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team, who reach speeds of up to 120mph, were spotted flying over the town on Friday before dropping on to the beach as part of a training exercise.
The team’s training was originally due to take place on Thursday but was postponed because of bad weather.
Friday also saw wet weather and it was thought the jump would probably not go-ahead. But the skies cleared for a time later in the afternoon allowing the team to complete their training exercise.
A spokesperson for Weymouth Town Council said: “A section of the beach was closed to the public on Friday while the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team undertook a training jump.
“After the jump, the guys were kind enough to spend some time with the people who had gathered to watch and show them their parachute equipment – thanks guys!”
The RAF Parachute Display Team is the only centrally funded, professional, military parachute display team in the UK.
Their free fall display, which includes advanced manoeuvres, falling at speeds of up to 120mph, and their non-contact canopy stack manages to fascinate those who see it.
People expressed their excitement at seeing the Parachute Display Team on social media with one resident saying it was great to see and it made up for the team not jumping on Armed Forces Day last year due to the bad weather.
Also lucky enough to catch the mesmerizing display was the social group from Dorset Abilities Group who left the cinema just in time to catch the RAF Falcons completing their practice jump on the beach, which they said was a treat.
The Falcons are the UK’s premier military parachute display team and are based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and display at venues all over Britain and Europe throughout the year.
In their career they have performed multiple times for the Royal Family and heads of state – whilst also introducing many new innovations into formation skydiving.
It was in 1965 that the team were given their name of ‘RAF Falcons’, which comes from the bird of prey which represented their displays; swift, swooping, elegant and aerobatic in flight.
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