The Aviation Magazine No 48 January - February 2017 | Page 26
The Black Knights, West Point's Parachute Team, provided a precision free‐fall demonstration. During their
performance the Team worked together to build various formations then separated to deploy their cano‐
pies to demonstrate their accuracy skills by landing on a target placed on the ground. The Black Knights
participate in the National Collegiate Parachuting Competition, winning the title in 2013.
The pristine B‐25 "Panchito" performed at the air show ‐ its twin 1700 horsepower to Wright R‐2600 en‐
gines rumbling in the sky. The B‐25 was designed as a medium bomber, built to operate at altitudes be‐
tween 8,000 and 12,000 feet. While the basic configuration remained the same throughout its production
over 9,800 aircraft, there were many changes to its armament depending on the squadron's mission. The
armament variations included 75mm cannons, rockets, and up to eighteen .50 caliber machine guns. Some
B‐25's were modified to carry torpedoes. While the B‐25's most famous mission was the Doolittle raid, B‐
25's played a much larger role throughout World War II. They were used in all theatres of the war from
Alaska to North Africa, China, Europe and he Southwest Pacific. B‐25's were flown by the U.S. Air Force
and U.S. Marine Corps, as well as the air forces of Britain, Canada, Australia, Russian, China, Brazil and the
East Indies. The "Panchito", whose crew consisted of combat veterans and recent trainee graduates, was
assigned to the 41st Bomb Group ‐ the first unit to attack the Japanese home islands since the Doolittle
Raids. The crew was preparing for their August 13, 1945 mission when at 5 o'clock in the morning when a
loudspeaker announcement was made "Mission for today cancelled ‐ and all planes will leave for Manila at
dawn." Japan had surrendered.
An appearance was made by an Aero L‐39 Albatros. This high‐performance jet trainer was designed during
the 1960's in Czechoslovakia Aero Vodochody. In order to minimize damage caused by inexperienced
crew, this aircraft was designed with simplified onb