The Royal Air Force Falcons Parachute Display Team have begun training ahead of the 2026 display season, on Exercise Freefall Endeavour in California.
Exercise Freefall Endeavour is the first part of two training exercises the team take part in prior to displaying in the summer. Freefall Endeavour primarily focuses on leaning freefall skydiving skills and gaining qualifications, which are used both during the display and in RAF parachute instructing.
Sergeant Luke Mees from Hampshire has joined the team as Falcon 7, one of three new jumpers on the team for the 2026 season.
Sergeant Mees joined the RAF in 2014 as a RAF Firefighter, working at RAF Odiham and doing two tours of the Falklands before changing professions and transferring to become a Physical Training Instructor in 2019, followed by successfully completing his Parachute Jump Instructor course in 2023.
Sergeant Mees said:
“When I joined the RAF as a Firefighter, I had no idea the role of a Parachute Jump Instructor existed. When I found out it was something I could do, along with the opportunity to become an RAF Falcon I decided that was the path for me and changed professions to work to becoming a parachute instructor. I’m looking forward to representing the RAF as part of the team and showing the world what we can do.”
Sergeant Mees
Falcon 7
