The world famous Red Devils are due to drop into Hatfield this evening.
In a very special addition to the Battle Proms’ 20th anniversary programme, the Parachute Regiment and British Army’s official display team will perform their spectacular freefall demonstration in the skies above the Hatfield House concert.
The Parachute Regiment Freefall Team – better known as The Red Devils – was formed in 1964 to promote the Army’s elite Parachute Regiment in support of recruitment.
Every member of the team is a serving soldier from one of the regiment’s three full-time battalions – 1, 2 and 3 Para – with each having seen active service in The Falklands, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan or Iraq.
Since 1979, The Red Devils has been firmly established as the British Army’s official parachute display team and its members are widely acknowledged as among the best display parachutists in the world.
Every year the team carry out more than 100 spectacular parachute displays at public events worldwide promoting The British Army and The Parachute Regiment (‘The Paras’).
In addition to displays, The Red Devils also help to raise over £500,000 for charity each year by carrying out tandem skydives with members of the public.
A classic Red Devils parachute display will see up to 10 team members jumping from an altitude of up to 10,000ft.
Trailing smoke to demonstrate their speed and movement, the highly-skilled skydivers will freefall at speeds of up to 120mph, before deploying their parachutes.
Once safely under canopy, team members will demonstrate breathtaking, high-speed ‘swoop’ landings and spectacular ‘canopy formations’ – both unique to parachute displays in the UK.
An informative commentary is provided throughout the team’s display and team members will be available afterwards to meet spectators.
Their display at Hatfield House Battle Proms is due around 6.50pm.
• Hatfield House Battle Proms programme
4.30pm: Gates open
6.20pm: Napoleonic cavalry display
6.50pm: The Red Devils
7pm: The Jazz Spivs
7.55pm: The Evening Gun Salute
8pm-10.30pm: The classical musical programme
The concert finishes at approximately 10.30pm.
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