Army’s Golden Knights, perform at 30th Annual Amigo Airsho in Texas

Fort Bliss PAO

November 3, 2011

	Photo by Stephen Baack/Fort Bliss PAO U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team members Sgt. 1st Class Joe Jones, (left) Sgt. Richard Sloan (center) and Sgt. Daniel Cook descend after jumping out of the Knights’ C-31 during their Oct. 23, performance above Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss, Texas, as part of the 30th Annual Amigo Airsho.

FORT BLISS, Texas, — “You are now cleared for takeoff” never sounded so good as aerial performers from all five armed forces, and plenty of flying acts from government agencies and the civilian world, filled the skies above roughly 100,000 spectators from Fort Bliss, the El Paso community and abroad at the post’s Biggs Army Airfield here Friday and Saturday for the 30th Annual Amigo Airsho.

Included in the lineup were the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the Air Force’s A-10 West Demonstration Team, and, for the first time here since 1997, the Navy’s Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. Their arrival to Fort Bliss was fitting as 2011 marked 100 years of naval aviation and 65 years of Blue Angels performances.

Fort Bliss also showed off static displays at ground level, including the Patriot and Avenger systems, the M997 Field Litter Ambulance, humvees, and the C-12 and DASH-7 aircraft. The 1st Armored Division also displayed their M1A2 Abrams tank, M2A3 Bradley, M109 Paladin and Stryker vehicle. Also present was equipment from 1st AD’s Combat Aviation Brigade, including the AH-64D Apache, CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk.

It wasn’t only a military presence, however, as acts, including Tim Weber’s GEICO Extra 300S and Bob Carlton in his Jet Powered Sailplane, graced the weekend’s clear skies.

“I enjoyed seeing the jet-powered glider,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Daniel T. May, brigade standardization officer for 1st AD’s Combat Aviation Bde. Department of Defense civilian Gabriel Acosta said the Blue Angels were the highlight of the show for him, as he is prior-service Navy.

“Besides the $3 bottles of water, the show was awesome,” said Joanna M. Carter, civilian spectator. “When the Blue Angels were flying over in formation, I was in awe.”

And of course, no air show at an Army post would be complete without the Golden Knights, who jumped several times during the show and were, once again, mistaken by El Paso citizens for UFOs during their Friday night pre-show jump. The team has been entertaining crowds for 50 years.

“I’m just here to show them what the Army Soldier is capable of, and airfield seizures are what we’re trying to demonstrate right now and how awesome the United States Army is,” said Spc. Matthew Navarro, a member of the Golden Knights, referring to paratroopers who jump in and take over battlefields. “Everyone has their own (act). The Air Force has the T-birds, the Navy has the Blues, the Army has the Soldiers, so we’re jumping out of an airplane.”

“The Amigo Airsho has outdone itself again this year,” said Maj. Gen. Dana J. H. Pittard, commanding general of 1st AD and Fort Bliss. “Here at Fort Bliss we are very grateful for all they have given to our Soldiers, their Families and the El Paso community.

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