Wings of Blue

The Wings of Blue parachute team is the United States Air Force Academy's parachuting unit, currently operating at the 98th FTS, 306th Flying Training Group, Air Education and Training Command. Their mission is stated as: "Develop airmen through flight in its purest form--STAND IN THE DOOR!"

History

Parachuting at the U.S. Air Force Academy began in 1964 when a group of ambitious cadets took to the skies. Knowing full well of the consequences if caught participating in the forbidden sport, their involvements were revealed through their own irrepressible success. That spring, Cadet First Class (C1C, the rank of a senior at the U.S. Air Force Academy) Jay Kelley and Cadet Third Class (C3C, a sophomore) Pete Johnston paired and won a novice team accuracy event--the Academy's first gold medal in collegiate competition. Their achievements that day resulted in an invitational demonstration at the Pueblo Army Depot, "after which the commander at Fort Carson sent a very nice letter to the Academy's Superintendent, thanking him for allowing the fine young me of his skydiving team to participate" [1] . After a thorough investigation, the Commandant of Cadets, Brigadier General Robert W. Strong Jr. "had a dilemma on his hands. After all, balancing against the weight of these young men's sin was the positive publicity they had brought upon themselves and the Academy. However illegal their activities, they were on to something good" [2] .

Each year since then, more than 800 cadets, officers, and enlisted members (from both U.S. and foreign services) complete five free fall jumps and earn their parachutist badge and rating. The Air Force Academy offers the only jump program in the United States authorized to allow students to perform unassisted free fall delays on their first jump without any prior jump experience.

Airmanship 490

Airmanship 490 (AM-490) is the basic free fall course instructed by members of the Wings of Blue, known as PTWOBs (Parachute Team Wings of Blue). Students enrolled in the course undergo more than 30 hours of ground training prior to their first free fall jump. The rigorous ground training introduces and develops procedures and techniques for high altitude free fall, and for operating a steerable parachute system. The course focuses on safety and emergency procedures to aid the students' ability to overcome their fears and perform under the extremely stressful and potentially life-threatening situations they may encounter.

Prior to each of the five jumps, students in the AM-490 class receive two gear inspections to ensure their parachutes are fitted and working properly. These thorough inspections guarantee that the parachute's main and reserve canopy firing devices are on and accurately calibrated, and their gear is not defective. Students also receive a comprehensive briefing from the jumpmaster before loading the aircraft. Once airborne, the jumpmaster determines the exit/opening point, which varies with the day's wind patterns, student's receive their third and final gear inspection as the plane turns inbound for the jump run. At 4,500 feet above ground level (AGL), winds rush into the fuselage as the jumpmaster opens the door then instructs the first jumper to: "STAND IN THE DOOR!"

Airmanship 491/492

Before the Fall semester begins, 25 cadets entering their sophomore year at the Academy are hand-selected from approximately 200 applicants for an upgrade program into the Wings of Blue, known as the Wings of Green. In their first semester in AM-491 they fine tune their free fall skills completing the various stages of military advanced free fall. In the Spring semester the students enter AM-492, where they complete the rigorous training to become jumpmasters, and instruct a AM-490 class under the supervision of senior cadets on the Wings of Blue. After, a year of training the Wings of Green graduate into the Wings of Blue and are recognized as not only AM-490 instructors, but qualified aircrew members for the 98th Flying Training Squadron operations.

Airmanship 496

Airmanship 496 (AM-496) is compose of the junior and senior PTWOBs. This group is further divided into the junior competition/demonstration team, and the senior competition/demonstration team. While cadets in AM-496 dedicate themselves to the demands of their individual teams, they remain united in their performance of duties within the squadron, team dynamics, and stay steadfast to their core mission as Airmanship 490 Instructors/Jumpmasters.

The competition ("comp") team is composed of approximately ten members: two four-way teams, and one two-member team performing vertical relative work. All members compete in canopy accuracy as well. In the aerial events, teams are given 35 to 40 seconds to complete a preplanned formation maneuvers after exiting the plane. Jumpers exit with a videographer who records the jump for judging. The comp team represents the Wings of Blue at numerous competitions across the country, to include the National Skydiving Championships, National Collegiate Parachuting Championships, Black and Gold Competition (an all military competition), and numerous other free fall and accuracy meets throughout the year. The comp team fares well in all these meets, winning medals at many of the meets they attend. To date, the PTWOB competition team has been recognized as the leading collegiate team in the nation 29 of the last 39 years.

The demonstration team ("demo") team is composed of the remaining team members in the AM-496 program. This team represents the Wings of Blue around the nation at Air Force forums, air shows, football games, and various other sporting events, and at other civilian requests. The demo team puts on quite a show for crowds all across the United States, as well in other countries. Their act is composed of relative work consisting of colored smoke jumping, and flag/streamer presentations. The demo team is also well known for its appearance at major college football bowl games during the holiday season, as well as Monday Night Football games.