 This year the Melplash Show proudly presents Medieval Jousting by Legends, the official parachute display team of both The Parachute Regiment and The British Army ‘The Red Devils’ and the Royal Navy hot air balloon will be lifting off around 6pm (weather permitting).
LEGENDS MEDIEVAL ENTERTAINMENTS  Based in Leicestershire - Mark Williams presents 4 knights on horseback plus ground staff and give an exciting andvery realistic display of horsemanship, jousting skills and swordplay in 2 x 30 minute displays. It was the romantic tale of Robin Hood that first inspired the formation of Legends. Every show produced is carefully tailored to impart a little “Sherwood magic” to the audience. Regulars at the August Sherwood Forest Festival they are a very popular addition to the schedule.'
FLY NAVY HOT AIR BALLOON
In 2009, the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm will be celebrating the first 100 years of Naval Aviation, and as a precursor to the events planned to mark this, the Fly Navy Hot Air Balloon Team, based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton will be supporting the Melplash Show in 2008.
 Fly Navy has two pilots, Lieutenant Commanders Rob Schwab and Dave Constant, and a small support team who assist with the inflation, launch and recovery of the balloon after her flights. Both Rob and Dave are naval pilots with thousands of hours flying experience between them. Rob being a Sea Harrier pilot that has won awards as a display pilot (as well as being a champion hang glider pilot) and Dave, a helicopter pilot who has spend most of his career flying Sea King helicopters from aircraft carriers in all weather conditions. Since 2006, the balloon has been seen at various events around the country at balloon fiestas, including Europe’s largest in Bristol (usually supported by historic aircraft from the Royal Navy Historic Flight), air shows, military pageants and whenever people request our attendance, if the weather is good enough and the pilots are available for Fly Navy to be flown.
The balloon is also used to support the activities of the Fly Navy Heritage Trust which helps to promote public awareness of the Fleet Air Arm, its past, present and future. The Trust, like the balloon is based at RNAS Yeovilton, with the Fleet Arm Museum (which houses over 90 aircraft, including the first British built Concorde), the Royal Navy Historic Flight (with its collection of airworthy vintage aircraft) and the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church, Saint Bartholomew's, as well as many operational Naval Air Squadrons, which spend a significant amount of time every year deployed on active service overseas. The team are always looking for supporters of the Heritage Trust.
For 2009, the planned celebrations include air shows at Royal Naval Air Stations and other sites around the country, parades, ship visits and many other high-profile events, both nationally and locally, bringing the world of Naval Aviation to audiences of all ages and all walks of life.
RED DEVILS
 ‘The Red Devils’ is the official parachute display team of both The Parachute Regiment and The British Army. The team’s members are widely regarded as among the best display parachutists in the world.
Every member of the 25 man team is a serving Paratrooper from the Army’s elite Parachute Regiment – with each having seen active service in either The Falklands, Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and/or Iraq.
Formed in 1964, the Red Devils carry out more than 100 spectacular parachute displays each year at public events worldwide promoting the Parachute Regiment and the British Army.
Display highlights in 2007 included:
 Red Bull Air Race – London Docklands- World Superbikes at Brands Hatch
- British Touring Car Championships at Thruxton
- Air Shows at Jacksonville and Virginia (USA)
- Water jump into Swanage Bay
Media highlights in 2007 included appearances on/in:
- BBC Top Gear
- BBC Animal Park
- Sky Sports 2 Leeds Vs. Bradford Super Leagues
- ITV Tyne Tees News
- + Over 6 million national, regional and local newspapers and magazines
In addition to displays, the Red Devils also help to raise over £100,000 for charity each year by carrying out tandem Skydives with members of the public.
The Red Devils are self funded and are currently seeking sponsorship for 2008.
For more information on the Red Devils, the Parachute Regiment, tandem skydives for charity, display bookings and/or sponsorship opportunities please visit the team’s website: www.reddevilsonline.com |
