Latest news with #GoldenKnights
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hundreds flock to Kirtland to watch military skydiving, aerobatics
Jun. 1—People sat in their lawn chairs and held loved ones while looking up at the sky where they saw the U.S. Army Parachute Team jump out of a plane and showcase their skills and planes — including a MiniJet — roar across the sky. "It's just a baby," New Mexico Tech student Atticus Stewart said as the MiniJet flew upside down before turning around and speeding past the spectators. "The Minijet is over 1,000 pounds lighter and 60 mph faster than any current Indy car," an announcer said. "No way," Stewart said. "That's crazy." Stewart was one of hundreds of people to attend the final day of the Kirtland Air Fiesta, which began Saturday at Kirtland Air Force Base. Aside from jumps by the U.S. Army Parachute Team — also known as the Golden Knights — people watched the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina perform as well as a comprehensive showcase by the 58th Special Operations Wing, including the MC-130, AC-130, HC-130, HH-60, Huey and CV-22 aircraft. They also saw a F-35 fighter jet, a fifth-generation stealth plane, zoom across the clear skies. The event also included live demonstrations and "static demonstrations," where guests went inside military aircraft including the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye and B-52 Stratofortress. "It is a good historical footprint of aviation history," said Greg Holmes with the Roadrunner Convoy, an event participant. Albuquerque resident Ashley Dunbar said she was glad to be back at Air Fiesta, which last took place in 2019. "It brings back a sense of normalcy, after years of social distancing and the pandemic and all that," she said. The event also provided a chance for 6-year-old Cora Scott to see the planes and jets, which she said "are really cool." "This is her opportunity to get up close to something she always admires in the sky," said Cora Scott's mother, Marla Scott. It is also a way for people to get to see another side of the military. "It almost makes it to where they're real people," Marla Scott said. Kirtland wanted to make sure people in the community had a chance to see what it does and to "come out and experience" all the different aircraft it has, Air Fiesta director, Lt. Col. Andrew Freitag, said in an interview, adding "we're thinking" the event could take place every two years. South Valley resident Marie Trujillo said she attended the event because she loves looking at military planes and wanted to honor her brother who served in the military. "This is awesome," she said. "This keeps the kids busy and it's entertaining." As Trujillo's grandson, Malekai McMurray, 14, looked at the planes, he said, "I would love to be in one, one day."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elite U.S. Army parachuting team performs at Kirtland AFB for 2025 Air Fiesta
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Thousands of visitors crowded Kirtland Air Force Base Saturday to get a glimpse of one of the city's biggest aerial shows- Kirtland's 2025 Air Fiesta. It's been several years since the base has hosted the event, and guests were eager to see its comeback. 'For us on the base, it means a lot for the community of Albuquerque to participate and come out and kind of see all these types of demonstrations,' said Ruben Garibay, Public Affairs Specialist for Kirtland Public Affairs Office. Story continues below Crime: Albuquerque business owner faces murder charge for shooting fleeing shoplifter News: Las Vegas deputy charged with aggravated battery and robbery Business: A downtown Albuquerque shoe shine parlor is still serving patrons after nearly a century Events: What's happening around New Mexico May 30-June 5? Kirtland Air Fiesta and more Lots of practice and preparation went into this year's event, but there is one event that always draws a crowd- the U.S. Army's Golden Knights. 'What made me want to be a demonstrator is I went on a couple of shows, and just seeing the excitement they bring to the crowd, and just how much they inspire people,' said Shelby Guarnieri, a demonstrator for the Golden Knights. The Golden Knights are an elite parachute team and were one of many aerial teams to show off their skills this weekend. 'It's exhilarating and nerve-wracking all at the same time,' Guarnieri said. 'You are just constantly running through the maneuver in your head.' Shelby said she's served in the military for 13 years and spent time working in communications. However, after seeing what the Golden Knight could do, she decided to become a demonstrator. 'I wanted to do something in my army career that pushed me to do more than my comfort zone, and this definitely did that for me,' Guarnieri added. The team warmed up by running mock drills on the ground before suiting up and making the dive. And though this was her first year being a demonstrator, she's looking future jumps.'I try to get better every time,' Guarnieri said. 'It's awesome to be out here and represent the team in New Mexico.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Army estimates that Trump's military parade could cost $16 million in damage to Washington streets
The cost to repair Washington, D.C., streets after the upcoming military parade celebrating the Army's 250th anniversary could cost as much as $16 million, according to U.S. military officials. That's part of an estimated $45 million total cost for the June 14 military parade, which coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. The cost estimates have fluctuated as planning continues. In an interview with NBC News' 'Meet the Press' earlier this month, the president defended the cost of the parade, calling it 'peanuts compared to the value of doing it.' 'We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it,' Trump added. The parade will be part of a massive celebration in downtown Washington that includes a number of events, historical displays and a demonstration by the Army's famous parachute team, the Golden Knights. The parade itself will include about 130 vehicles, including 28 M1A1 tanks, 28 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 28 Stryker armored fighting vehicles and a number of vehicles towing artillery launchers. More than 50 helicopters will also participate in an 'extensive flyover' in the nation's capital. The event will also bring more than 9,000 soldiers from around the country to Washington, about 7,000 of whom will march in the parade itself. The event will also include at least eight Army bands, and some troops will ride on the nearly three dozen horses and two mules expected to march as part of a historical section of the parade. The soldiers visiting Washington for the parade will be housed in government buildings, including the Department of Agriculture building and a General Services Administration building. A few thousand others will bunk at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The troops are expected to eat military rations called meals ready to eat, or MREs, during their stay. Trump had long wanted a military parade during his first term. But it was canceled over concerns about cost and the optics of a military parade in the nation's capital that could be seen as akin to the kind commonly seen in Moscow, Beijing or Pyongyang, North Korea. The inclusion of tanks in a potential parade also drew concerns about what their tracks might do to the streets of Washington. The Army is preparing for the potential harm to Washington streets with several measures it hopes will avert damage. These include using 1-inch-thick steel plates, some as long as 20 feet, at places along the parade route where the tanks must turn and where those turns could cause the most damage to the streets. The addition of the steel plates is expected to cost the Army about $3 million, officials said. The tanks are also being outfitted with new track pads to create separation between the metal track and the ground, the officials said. Army officials said they believe these measures will keep the damage to a minimum and bring the cost of repairing any damage down significantly. 'We are targeting those areas that we have concerns, which primarily are areas where the tracked vehicles are going to have to turn sharply,' said Col. Jesse Curry, the executive officer for the Army Corps of Engineers. 'We are not particularly concerned that this staging area and the routes have been selected to really minimize the risk from weight and damage. But really, those areas where tanks have to turn, particularly the areas where the surface of the pavement, we typically receive an exaggerated level of stress.' The parade route itself will follow Constitution Avenue along the National Mall from 23rd Street to around 15th Street. The roughly 50 aircraft will include Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, including several special operations variants. Also planned to fly are several historic aircraft, including World War II-era B-25s, P-51s and Vietnam-era helicopters. The parade is expected to last roughly 90 minutes and will be broken into eras: the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Global War on Terror, the modern Army and the future. The Army's Golden Knights will jump during the presentation about the Army's future and plan to deliver an American flag to Trump. In the early-May 'Meet the Press' interview, Trump defended himself against claims that the military parade was for his birthday, reiterating that the Army's 250th birthday and Flag Day are also on June 14. 'My birthday happens to be on Flag Day,' he said. 'I view it for Flag Day, not necessarily my birthday. Somebody put it together. But no, I think we're going to do something on June 14, maybe, or somewhere around there. But I think June 14. It's a very important day.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Army says Trump's military parade could cause $16 million in damage to Washington streets
The cost to repair Washington, D.C., streets after the upcoming military parade celebrating the Army's 250th anniversary could cost as much as $16 million, according to U.S. military officials. That's part of an estimated $45 million total cost for the June 14 military parade, which coincides with President Donald Trump's 79th birthday. The cost estimates have fluctuated as planning continues. In an interview with NBC News' 'Meet the Press' earlier this month, the president defended the cost of the parade, calling it 'peanuts compared to the value of doing it.' 'We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it,' Trump added. The parade will be part of a massive celebration in downtown Washington that includes a number of events, historical displays and a demonstration by the Army's famous parachute team, the Golden Knights. The parade itself will include about 130 vehicles, including 28 M1A1 tanks, 28 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 28 Stryker armored fighting vehicles and a number of vehicles towing artillery launchers. More than 50 helicopters will also participate in an 'extensive flyover' in the nation's capital. The event will also bring more than 9,000 soldiers from around the country to Washington, about 7,000 of whom will march in the parade itself. The event will also include at least eight Army bands, and some troops will ride on the nearly three dozen horses and two mules expected to march as part of a historical section of the parade. The soldiers visiting Washington for the parade will be housed in government buildings, including the Department of Agriculture building and a General Services Administration building. A few thousand others will bunk at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The troops are expected to eat military rations called meals ready to eat, or MREs, during their stay. Trump had long wanted a military parade during his first term. But it was canceled over concerns about cost and the optics of a military parade in the nation's capital that could be seen as akin to the kind commonly seen in Moscow, Beijing or Pyongyang, North Korea. The inclusion of tanks in a potential parade also drew concerns about what their tracks might do to the streets of Washington. The Army is preparing for the potential harm to Washington streets with several measures it hopes will avert damage. These include using 1-inch-thick steel plates, some as long as 20 feet, at places along the parade route where the tanks must turn and where those turns could cause the most damage to the streets. The addition of the steel plates is expected to cost the Army about $3 million, officials said. The tanks are also being outfitted with new track pads to create separation between the metal track and the ground, the officials said. Army officials said they believe these measures will keep the damage to a minimum and bring the cost of repairing any damage down significantly. 'We are targeting those areas that we have concerns, which primarily are areas where the tracked vehicles are going to have to turn sharply,' said Col. Jesse Curry, the executive officer for the Army Corps of Engineers. 'We are not particularly concerned that this staging area and the routes have been selected to really minimize the risk from weight and damage. But really, those areas where tanks have to turn, particularly the areas where the surface of the pavement, we typically receive an exaggerated level of stress.' The parade route itself will follow Constitution Avenue along the National Mall from 23rd Street to around 15th Street. The roughly 50 aircraft will include Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, including several special operations variants. Also planned to fly are several historic aircraft, including World War II-era B-25s, P-51s and Vietnam-era helicopters. The parade is expected to last roughly 90 minutes and will be broken into eras: the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Global War on Terror, the modern Army and the future. The Army's Golden Knights will jump during the presentation about the Army's future and plan to deliver an American flag to Trump. In the early-May 'Meet the Press' interview, Trump defended himself against claims that the military parade was for his birthday, reiterating that the Army's 250th birthday and Flag Day are also on June 14. 'My birthday happens to be on Flag Day,' he said. 'I view it for Flag Day, not necessarily my birthday. Somebody put it together. But no, I think we're going to do something on June 14, maybe, or somewhere around there. But I think June 14. It's a very important day.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
DC mayor concerned about parade tanks' impact on streets
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser is raising concerns that military tanks and armored vehicles set to roll down city streets next month for the Army's 250th anniversary parade will tear up the roadways. Bowser on Thursday warned that the city would be on the hook for expenses linked to repairing its streets after the June 14 event, with an unknown timetable for when the Pentagon might reimburse Washington. 'I remain concerned about it, I have to tell you,' she told reporters at a press conference. 'These are, for the most part, local streets, and if they're rendered unusable, we have to make them usable and then go seek our money from the feds.' 'That gives me some concern about fronting costs and waiting for them to get back,' she added. The U.S. capital is poised to host a massive military parade to mark the Army milestone anniversary — which also falls on President Trump's birthday — featuring thousands of service members and dozens of military vehicles on a route that will stretch for nearly four miles from the Pentagon to the White House, according to service officials. Trump, who is set to speak during the event, has brushed aside concerns over the costs of the parade — upwards of $45 million — as 'peanuts compared to the value of doing it.' But city officials have raised fears that more than two dozen Abrams tanks, as well as numerous heavy armored vehicles, will damage city streets. Bowser last month said tanks taking to Washington's streets 'would not be good' and 'should be accompanied by many millions of dollars' for repairs. The Army has sought to alleviate these concerns by insisting thick metal plates will be put down on parts of the route beforehand, and any damage will be covered by the service. Military parades have been a sore subject between Trump and Bowser, who clashed over the same issue in 2018 during the president's first term. Trump, who had wanted to host a military parade after being inspired by France's Bastille Day celebrations, ultimately canceled his first-term plans for a state-side event and blamed 'local politicians' for an exorbitant price tag to make it happen. 'The local politicians who run Washington, D.C. (poorly) know a windfall when they see it,' he posted online at the time. Also included in the parade will be historic aircraft and at least 50 helicopters flying through Washington's skies, Army parachutists known as the Golden Knights and a fireworks display at dusk. Bowser said she was advised by the National Transportation Safety Board that 'there could be some disruption to the airspace at times,' due to the military aircraft, which could affect air travel for short periods of time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
