Red Berets descend during a jump at the recent Adelaide Clipsal 500 motorsport event. Photo by Sgt Mick Bott, 82WG

Red Berets idolised at Clipsal 500

By Pte John Wellfare
THE Red Berets parachute display team wowed crowds at the recent Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, with a series of descents that proved a popular side-attraction at the motor-racing event.

Six members of the team - RSM PTS WO2 Gary Mychael, WO2 Ralf Jaeger, WO2 Andrew Platt, Pte Michael O'Leary, Sgt Rodney Shields and Sgt Peter Dalmonte - conducted nine jumps - eight from 5000 feet and one from 10,000 feet - over the course of the event, which ran from March 19-21.

And for that added celebrity touch, Australian Idol finalist singer Kelly Cavuoto tandem jumped attached to senior instructor WO2 Jaeger.

The ADF-supplied entertainment wasn't limited to Army parachuting, with four descents from a Navy Sea Hawk Helicopter and a RAAF F111 display.

The Red Berets parachute display team is made up of instructors and staff from the parachute training school in Nowra.

Australian Idol finalist Kelly Cavuoto during and after a tandem jump with WO2 Ralf Jaeger, PTS, over Adelaide. Photo by Pte Michael O'Leary, PTS

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