Hi All,
My neighbour told me the following story which you may find
interesting. He is also very interested in what would have happened if
he hadnt have removed the belt when he did. I said I'd post on here to
see if any experts knew, or could offer a best guess. If you need any
more information I can get it for you.
What follows is my neighbour's account.
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In 1945, during army (Airborne) manoeuvres, I did a routine parachute
jump over Salisbury Plain. Opening procedure was automatic, as our
chute static lines were attached to a cable inside the plane.
I had foolishly fitted a belt around my waist after connecting up my
chute, not realising that I had trapped the static line, with the
result that the tightening of the static line could only attempt to
pull the canopy out of the pack, down between my belt and my body. Not
the way it was supposed to go. In the event, I was just able to
release the belt in time, with the result that my chute opened
correctly.
I am very keen to know exactly what would have happened if I had
failed to release the belt? Clearly, the canopy would have tried to
feed itself in between my body and the belt, and this would have been
impossible.
My recollection of the parachute operating procedure is that, in
addition to First Ties, (or Primary Ties? I don't remember the proper
name) which would snap at the first pull, thereby opening the envelope
of the pack, there was a "Final Tie" attaching the very tip of the
canopy to the end of the static line. This Final Tie was only intended
to break at the point when the canopy had left the pack, followed by
the rigging-lines, and only when the whole length of canopy and
rigging lines were extended and taut, that is when the final tie was
intended to snap, at which point the canopy would open..
I have heard tell of parachutes of that type which did not release,
(although I don't understand how this could happen, since the final
tie had a breaking-point measured only in pounds) and the jumper
dangled behind the plane until he was either pulled back aboard the
plane (by at least two very strong guys!) or having the static line
cut with a knife, from inside the plane, whilst passing over a lake. I
never came across this first hand, but I understand that survival rate
in this sort of incident is extremely low.
I really want to ascertain just what WOULD have happened, step by
step, if I had been unable to release the belt in time.
Is there anybody out there who knows?
