BillHulsizer 0 #1 Posted February 12, 2020 The first successful parafoil drop was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1971. My grandpa was the prototype parachute maker for the Air Force and NASA and made all of the prototypes 1948-1973. He used 4 wood rings as sliders to slow down the opening of the canopy. Yes, he invented sliders. I still have the prototype and it has never been on display to the public. I'm wondering if there is a 50th anniversary event scheduled somewhere? Www.PrototypeParachutes.com has pictures & videos of all 30 prototypes. We gave 28 of them to the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, where grandpa worked. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SethInMI 174 #2 February 13, 2020 12 hours ago, BillHulsizer said: I'm wondering if there is a 50th anniversary event scheduled somewhere? post this in the History and Trivia forum Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #3 February 13, 2020 This is a really great post, thank you for sharing. It would be awesome if you could type up as much of this as possible in the history and trivia forum, maybe post pictures too! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
