who is coming
Is it the Thunderbirds or the F-22 Raptors?
Ever since the 2022 Selfridge Open House and Air Show hosted by the Michigan Air National Guard’s 127th Wing was announced, excitement for the show has been building and coming. Saturday morning at 8 a.m., that hum will turn into a thunderous roar over Selfridge Field.
“It’s going to be a great show,” said Griffin Mueller of Dallas, Texas and a member of the Golden Knights’ parachute demonstration and competition team representing the U.S. military, who was minutes away from boarding a plane who was headed to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township.
“This will be my first time in Michigan,” said the 27-year-old Texan, who joined the Army in 2012 and became a member of its elite group of paratroopers in 2022.
“I found out about the team after I joined and knew it was something I could do,” Mueller said.
So he started skydiving as a hobby.
Once he completed the required minimum of 75 free-fall parachute jumps, he tested the equipment. Applicants must also have a clean civilian and military record, which I also had.
“My mom was a little apprehensive about it, but my dad loved the idea,” Mueller said.
Since discovering his passion for skydiving and achieving his dream of becoming a Golden Knight in January, he has performed in four air shows around the country. Other members of the Golden Knights have also performed aerial stunts for crowds in Japan, England and France to name a few of the international shows.
It is dangerous.
Don’t doubt that.
During the air show at Selfridge, he and his teammates will jump from a plane traveling at speeds of 100 mph, simultaneously. Once they’ve cleared the plane, they’ll fly their bodies together so they can join together to make a massive formation in the sky.
Last weekend, a man died in an accident this happened during a race between the Shockwave Jet Truck and two airplanes at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival.
Griffin Mueller, left, of the U.S. Army Golden Knights Demonstration and Competition Team during an earlier air show, soars high. Photo courtesy of Griffin Mueller
However, as with anything else in the military, Mueller insists his team practice the jump and maneuvers they do over and over again.
“There is a risk in doing demonstrations like this, but we train so hard and rigorously that we mitigate these movements seamlessly and safely,” Mueller said.
And no matter how much they practice, it never gets old.
“I’ve done 821 jumps and I still get a rush every time I jump,” Mueller said.
Also a rush for the Golden Knights and other teams that perform in air shows is the crowd. The crowd’s reaction to his performances, whether jumping out of a plane and into a baseball stadium or nearby field, is always a rewarding experience.
“I love being able to jump into so many different places and meet the thousands of people who come to see us,” Mueller said.
What the kids of the Golden Knights will love is that when they are on the floor, they can meet them personally and even help them.
“It all depends on how much weather we have, but they can usually help us pack our parachute,” Mueller said, and that’s part of what makes attending an air show in his city an experience they’ll never forget. “They are absolutely amazed that they packed it.”
A young man watches closely as Golden Knights paratrooper Griffin Mueller teaches him how to pack a parachute. Photo courtesy of Griffin Mueller
You can bet some of these kids are also thinking, if I can pack a parachute, I can become a Golden Knight too!
“This is what we want. We are the ambassadors for the U.S. military and the military in general,” Mueller said.
The Golden Knights are one of several teams featured in the air show returning after a five-year hiatus. Other aerial performances will include the US Air Force F-22 Raptor, the C-17 Globemaster III, the C-130 Hercules, the US Army CH-47 Chinook, the Golden Knights elite parachute team, the Misty Blues parachute team, the US Coast Guard’s MH-65 Dolphin and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CF-18.
Team Selfridge gives American House veterans a day of air show practice
vVisitors to the free show and open house will see a variety of ground displays showcasing dozens of different military land vehicles and aircraft, including the 127th Wing’s KC-135 Stratotanker and A-10 Thunderbolt II. The 127th Wing consists of approximately 1,500 personnel supporting both the Air Mobility Command and the Air Combat Command conducting missions domestically and overseas and is the host unit at Air National Guard Base Selfridge, which marks its 105th year of continuous military air. operations in 2022.
The last event open to the public was the 100th Anniversary Open House and Air Show before COVID-19.
Kids who want to meet the Golden Knights should look for the US Army tent and bring your autograph program. The Kids Zone is another great place for kids with a range of interactive displays and activities including colorful bounce houses, games and arts and crafts tables.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase, making this a great opportunity for a day out with the whole family.
Aerial view of a Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18. Photo courtesy of SANG
“Open houses and air shows give us an opportunity to share what your ‘Hometown Air Force’ does right here in Southeast Michigan,” said Brig. Gen. Rolf E. Mammen, commander of Selfridge Air National Guard Base and the 127th Wing. “We will showcase Selfridge as a cornerstone of Michigan communities and look to enhance local partnerships in the process.”
The doors to the base will open to the public at 8am (and close at 4pm) on Saturday and Sunday 9 and 10 July.
Tickets can be found at North River Road and 21 Mile Road east of Jefferson. Traffic is likely to be slow but steady.
Motorcyclists entering Selfridge ANGB must wear a helmet, eye protection, protective clothing (long sleeves, trousers, gloves) and ankle boots.
To: TeamSelfridge.com.
For more information on the aircraft list, visit the Selfridge 2022 Open House and Air Show, like and follow the 127th Wing on Facebook.
