Personnel Parachute Familiarization Flashcards
What is the word, parachute, derived from, in the modern sense?
The Italian word ‘parare’ meaning to protect or shield from, and the French word chute, meaning a fall or quick decent– literally, “to protect from a fall.”
Who accomplished the first human parachute descent?
The famous French balloonist Andre-Jacques Garnerin, On October 1798.
Who is credited for being the first person to successfully jump from an aircraft using parachute?
Albert Berry.
When was the first successful jump by Albert Berry made?
On March 1, 1912, from a Benoist Pusher Biplane, at Jefferson barracks, not far from Kinlock Park “Aerodome”, St. Louis
What was the description of the parachute used by Albert Berry in the first successful jump?
It was in on bleached muslin cotton parachute, 36 feet in diameter. It’s suspension lines terminated into a trapeze bar in strap arrangement. The parachute assembly was packed into a cone attached under the airplane. It was retained within the metal cone by a series of break cords. The weight of Berry’s I falling body pulled the canopy and lines from the container.
What was the result of demands made by the flying public and Congress towards the end of 1918, with the war coming to a close?
The formation of a US air service parachute board at McCook Field in Dayton, Ohio.
Who was chosen as military Head of the parachute development team at the beginning of 1919?
Major E. L. Hoffman.
What was involved in the concept of initial testing on a new parachute design devised by Floyd Smith, since the attached (static– line actuated) type which were tested and found to be unsafe and weak, and otherwise unsuitable for use in emergency jumps from airplanes?
The use of the parachute canopy and lines packed into a container worn on a body harness, using a manually operated ripcord, yanked while falling freely through the air with no attachment to the aircraft, to open the parachute.
What is the description of the parachute designed by Floyd Smith, which ultimately became the US air service airplane parachute, type A?
It had a 28-foot diameter silk can canopy with silk suspension lines. The canopy was formed of 40 Gores, with a novel shock-reducing vent design, and it was packed into a backpack container worn on the body of the flyer, by being attached to a webbing harness. A small pilot– chute was designed to deploy the packed canopy and lines into the air when a pull on the ripcord opened the flaps on the back container being worn on the body.
What was the US air service airplane parachute, type A capable of withstanding?
And opening shock delivered by 200 pounds falling at a speed of 400 mph.
When Maj. Hoffman felt it was time for the model a parachute to be Live jumped, Who did he choose?
A young, enthusiastic parachutist and designer named Leslie L. Irvin.
When did Irvin jump from a USD– 9 airplane piloted by Floyd Smith at an altitude of 1500 feet and airspeed of 80 mph?
On April 28, 1919.
When did it become mandatory for all Army and Navy aircrew to wear the standard back-type parachute while in-flight?
March 1924.
When did the bureau of Aeronautics request volunteers from among the petty officers attached to the various naval air stations to take a course of instruction in parachutes at the Army school at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois?
June 1922.
Who was selected in June 1922 to take the course of instruction and parachutes?
13 chief petty officers throughout the Navy.
Who was ordered to Lakehurst, New Jersey, to set up a training course on parachutes and August 1923?
Chief Alva Starr and chief Lyman Ford
Although the training course was established, which was the PR rate established?
Not until 1942.
When was class No 1 convened at the parachute material school at Lakehurst to teach parachute rigging?
In September 1924.
Since the beginning of the PR school in 1924, how many parachute jumps have been made at Lakehurst, New Jersey?
Over 72,000.
How does today’s emergency sequence for ejecting from a disabled aircraft start?
When the air crewman makes a decision to leave the aircraft.
What is the ejection sequence of the MK GRU– 7?
One – initial injection, two – drogue gun fires, three – controller drogue deploys, four – stabilizer drogue deploys, and five – main parachute deploys and a normal parachute descent is made.
What are the sequence of events that take place in each parachute jump?
After the parachutist clears the aircraft, he pulls the ripcord. The ripcord pins are in removed from the locking cones, permitting the grommets to separate from the locking cones. The container spring opening bands pull the side and end flaps apart allowing the pilot chute to spring beyond the negative pressure area immediately above the falling body. This results and it’s getting a better “bites” on the surrounding area, thus speeding the opening of the canopy.
What point does the canopy began to fill with air?
When the air crewman falls away from the pilot parachute causing the main canopy to be pulled from the container assembly, followed by the suspension lines.
What point does the parachutist receive the opening shock?
When the lift webs are pulled from the container while the canopy fully opens as the parachute fails with air.
What is the design and construction of a parachute and its components based on?
The old idea that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
What are the five major parts of the standard service parachute, starting at the top and working down?
The pilot chute, main canopy, suspension lines, harness, and pack.
What is the order of deployment for most parachute assemblies?
The pilot chute, the canopy, the suspension lines, and the risers.
What are the five sizes of canopies used in Naval aviation?
35 foot, 28 foot, 26 foot, 24 foot, and 17 foot.
How much cloth and the thread is contained in the 28 foot canopy?
Approximately 796 ft.² of nylon cloth and 2,400 yards of nylon thread.
