In July, Southwest Regional Director Jack Pyland—flying a 2,032-square-foot American flag—headed up a group of 12 skydivers who made a demo jump into the annual Kaboom Town fireworks display at Addison Airport just outside of Dallas, Texas. Kaboom Town is one of the largest shows in the country, and more than 400,000 people come to see it, as well as the airshow that precedes it. Pyland has led the open-field demonstration jump into the event for the past seven years.

The jumpers exited a C-47 aircraft from not quite 5,000 feet AGL and landed alongside the 8,000-foot runway. Some of the jumpers also flew aircraft in the airshow just after landing from the demo. Cavanaugh Flight Museum sponsored the event and hosted a catered party for its supporters in one of its maintenance hangars. The hangar doors opened to a great view of the fireworks just a few hundred yards away, and the jumpers stayed to enjoy dinner and watch the show. 

Zach Lewis | D-21616
Carrollton, Texas