Golden Lions (parachute display team)
Encyclopedia
The Golden Lions Scottish Infantry Parachute Display Team were formed in 1969 by professional soldiers in the Scottish Division
wanting to promote the more ‘adventurous’ side of the Scottish Infantry, and help keep the British Army
in the public eye.
The Golden Lions consist of a team of up to 12 Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland. These soldiers must volunteer to attend a rigorous selection process followed by 12 months of training in Freefall, Accuracy and Display Co-ordination. Only the best of these will then be trained in the Canopy formation
s discipline, where parachutists join their canopies together in formations high above the arena. This is one of the hardest disciplines to perform. The Golden Lions are current Gold Medal Winners in the Scottish National Championships and Tri-Service Championships for Canopy Formations.
The Team is based in Redford Barracks
in Edinburgh
, and travel all over Scotland
providing displays for event organisers and Military Shows. In recent years the Team have entertained crowds at the Inverness Tattoo, the Braemar Highland Games and more recently, the Scottish Rugby Union
at Murrayfield Stadium
.
With favourable weather conditions, the Team provide a repertoire which includes freefall parachutists trailing smoke for thousands of feet, reaching speeds of over 120mph before safely deploying their parachutes. One member of the Team also carries the famous Golden Lions flag, a huge 20ft x 15ft St. Andrews Cross
with the Lion Rampant emblazoned on it. Other members of the Team carry video and stills cameras for air-to-air and air-to-ground footage and photography. Once the display is complete, the Team may, time permitting, move to one side and pack their parachutes.
Each display arena is required by law, to be a minimum of 100 metres by 50 metres, clear of major hazards and cordoned off to the public. Prices for a display are around £800 but vary depending on location. There is a standard non-refundable deposit of £200, with the remaining balance to be paid on completion of the display.
Scottish Division
The Scottish Division is a British Army Infantry command, training and administrative apparatus designated for all Scottish line infantry units. The Scottish Division was formed on July 1, 1968 with the amalgamation of the Lowland Brigade and Highland Brigade...
wanting to promote the more ‘adventurous’ side of the Scottish Infantry, and help keep the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in the public eye.
The Golden Lions consist of a team of up to 12 Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland. These soldiers must volunteer to attend a rigorous selection process followed by 12 months of training in Freefall, Accuracy and Display Co-ordination. Only the best of these will then be trained in the Canopy formation
Canopy formation
A canopy formation is a formation built by parachutists by flying their parachutes in proximity to each other and then taking grips on other jumpers' parachutes....
s discipline, where parachutists join their canopies together in formations high above the arena. This is one of the hardest disciplines to perform. The Golden Lions are current Gold Medal Winners in the Scottish National Championships and Tri-Service Championships for Canopy Formations.
The Team is based in Redford Barracks
Redford Barracks
Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks are located on Colinton Road, near the Edinburgh City Bypass, east of the suburb of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland....
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, and travel all over Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
providing displays for event organisers and Military Shows. In recent years the Team have entertained crowds at the Inverness Tattoo, the Braemar Highland Games and more recently, the Scottish Rugby Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
at Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium
Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...
.
With favourable weather conditions, the Team provide a repertoire which includes freefall parachutists trailing smoke for thousands of feet, reaching speeds of over 120mph before safely deploying their parachutes. One member of the Team also carries the famous Golden Lions flag, a huge 20ft x 15ft St. Andrews Cross
Flag of Scotland
The Flag of Scotland, , also known as Saint Andrew's Cross or the Saltire, is the national flag of Scotland. As the national flag it is the Saltire, rather than the Royal Standard of Scotland, which is the correct flag for all individuals and corporate bodies to fly in order to demonstrate both...
with the Lion Rampant emblazoned on it. Other members of the Team carry video and stills cameras for air-to-air and air-to-ground footage and photography. Once the display is complete, the Team may, time permitting, move to one side and pack their parachutes.
Each display arena is required by law, to be a minimum of 100 metres by 50 metres, clear of major hazards and cordoned off to the public. Prices for a display are around £800 but vary depending on location. There is a standard non-refundable deposit of £200, with the remaining balance to be paid on completion of the display.