Patriot Parachute Team Jumps to Honor America

July 6, 2017 - The Patriot Parachute Team is returning to Oshkosh after its triumphant performance at EAA AirVenture 2016.

The style of parachuting the Patriot Team uses is called canopy relative work (CRW), which consists of two or more jumpers building canopy formations by bringing their chutes in close proximity, even touching each other.

In the daytime, that means strapping a United States flag between two members of the team, who then descend with the flag oriented so the crowd on the ground can see it flying down toward them.

Isaiah Maring, the CEO of the Patriot Parachute Team, said one aspect of the team’s performance that differs from most other air show acts is to show that members of the team are just regular people by landing and greeting fans afterward.

It’s an incredible experience for anyone to shake the hand of a performer moments after landing, but the Patriot Parachute Team has a special appeal to children who see their daring act.

“It’s really inspiring the next generation of kids,” Isaiah said. “We land, walk over, and high-five the kids.”

Patriot Parachute Team jumpers can get up to 100 mph as they descend. The incredible feats the team pulls off are possible thanks to the training many of them got as parachute jumpers in the Navy SEALs (sea, air, and land.) Not every member of the team is a current or former SEAL, but they are all patriots and have an incredible respect for the country many of them served.

The team used the word patriot instead of one more directly related to the SEALs or other branches of service because of their desire to not profit from the SEAL name or reputation, but rather to create something new that honors their country.

Speaking of something new, Isaiah said spectators at the Patriot Parachute Team’s next performance during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017 can expect the Patriots to “do something that is interesting.”

Those wanting to see the Patriot Parachute Team at AirVenture 2017 will have plenty of chances to do so, as they will perform during the afternoon air show daily, during the Wednesday night air show, and during Twilight Flight Fest Monday Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

For a look at their performance during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2016, this video contains clips from both their daytime and evening performances.