PARACHUTES CONSTRUCTION AND TYPES
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This 1942 official War Department 1-536 training film produced by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in collaboration with the Chief of Air Corps shows examples of the different types of parachutes used in World War II and their materials and function. The black-and-white film opens with a group of young U.S. Army men in uniform wearing parachute packs on their backs standing in front of a World War II-era plane, possibly a P-47 Thunderbolt (0:55), and parachuting out of planes (1:01). A machine factory blade precisely cuts a silk or nylon parachute (1:10). Planes conduct parachute drop tests (1:30). Riggers pack and maintain parachutes (1:47). A closeup shows the main parachute parts: canopy and suspension line (2:04), pack assembly (2:10), harness (2:13), and pilot parachute (2:20). A diagram of a parachute, as the narration explains each part in more detail (2:33). Connector links attach the harness to the suspension lines (2:37). A rigger opens and closes the puckered vent (3:33) at the apex, which opens to relieve strain on the canopy during descent. The rigger demonstrates how the pilot parachute attaches to the apex (3:56). Footage of a pilot parachute opening midair and dragging the main canopy into position (4:13). The pack, shown at 4:18, is the container in which the canopy and suspension lines are packed. Army soldiers wearing different size parachute packs (4:28): a small seat parachute (4:33) holds up to 180 lbs and descends faster, while a large seat parachute (4:40) holds more weight. A form-fitting back parachute (4:47) allows more movement, attachable parachutes (5:00) are used in small spaces, and a training double parachute (5:08) has two independent packs on one person. A closeup of the locking device used on all parachutes except training ones: solid drawn wire prongs on the end of a rip cord (5:34). Elastics attached to the cord help open the parachute faster. An airman demonstrates grabbing and jerking the rip cord handle (6:07). A closeup of the rip cord (6:13), made of a flexible steel cable and locking pins wrapped in wire and soldered to the cable. At 6:40, the service-type parachute is explained and demonstrated: the pack is reinforced with wire and suspension lines are secured by rubber loops (6:50) attached to a tape. The soldier wraps a loop around a bundle of suspension lines (7:03), and then puts the canopy on top. He packs the pilot parachute into a separate compartment (7:28). A closeup of the harness (7:35), which attaches the parachute to the wearer. An airman wears the two main risers of the harness (7:47), which attach to the suspension lines with connector links and form the seat swing and leg straps (8:03). One Army soldier checks the back straps of another soldier (8:10). The harness locks in front with a breast strap. Closeups of the adapters at the shoulders and legs (8:49). A triple adapter (9:08) is on some older harnesses. Fasteners at each leg strap (9:18) secure the harness at the bottom; the closure can be a snap and V-ring (9:20) or bayonet-type. The soldier stuffs the pack into his kit bag (9:42). The film ends by emphasizing the importance of properly packing and inspecting parachutes to ensure flyer safety.
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Complete Record: This 1942 official War Department 1-536 training film produced by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in collaboration with the Chief of Air Corps shows examples of the different types of parachutes used in World War II and their materials and function. The black-and-white film opens with a group of young U.S. Army men in uniform wearing parachute packs on their backs standing in front of a World War II-era plane, possibly a P-47 Thunderbolt (0:55), and parachuting out of planes (1:01). A machine factory blade precisely cuts a silk or nylon parachute (1:10). Planes conduct parachute drop tests (1:30). Riggers pack and maintain parachutes (1:47). A closeup shows the main parachute parts: canopy and suspension line (2:04), pack assembly (2:10), harness (2:13), and pilot parachute (2:20). A diagram of a parachute, as the narration explains each part in more detail (2:33). Connector links attach the harness to the suspension lines (2:37). A rigger opens and closes the puckered vent (3:33) at the apex, which opens to relieve strain on the canopy during descent. The rigger demonstrates how the pilot parachute attaches to the apex (3:56). Footage of a pilot parachute opening midair and dragging the main canopy into position (4:13). The pack, shown at 4:18, is the container in which the canopy and suspension lines are packed. Army soldiers wearing different size parachute packs (4:28): a small seat parachute (4:33) holds up to 180 lbs and descends faster, while a large seat parachute (4:40) holds more weight. A form-fitting back parachute (4:47) allows more movement, attachable parachutes (5:00) are used in small spaces, and a training double parachute (5:08) has two independent packs on one person. A closeup of the locking device used on all parachutes except training ones: solid drawn wire prongs on the end of a rip cord (5:34). Elastics attached to the cord help open the parachute faster. An airman demonstrates grabbing and jerking the rip cord handle (6:07). A closeup of the rip cord (6:13), made of a flexible steel cable and locking pins wrapped in wire and soldered to the cable. At 6:40, the service-type parachute is explained and demonstrated: the pack is reinforced with wire and suspension lines are secured by rubber loops (6:50) attached to a tape. The soldier wraps a loop around a bundle of suspension lines (7:03), and then puts the canopy on top. He packs the pilot parachute into a separate compartment (7:28). A closeup of the harness (7:35), which attaches the parachute to the wearer. An airman wears the two main risers of the harness (7:47), which attach to the suspension lines with connector links and form the seat swing and leg straps (8:03). One Army soldier checks the back straps of another soldier (8:10). The harness locks in front with a breast strap. Closeups of the adapters at the shoulders and legs (8:49). A triple adapter (9:08) is on some older harnesses. Fasteners at each leg strap (9:18) secure the harness at the bottom; the closure can be a snap and V-ring (9:20) or bayonet-type. The soldier stuffs the pack into his kit bag (9:42). The film ends by emphasizing the importance of properly packing and inspecting parachutes to ensure flyer safety.
Transcription
e [Music] every day young men in the training schools Air Forces and parachute troops of the American Army bet their lives on the proper functioning of a parachute these young men know that they can depend on their parachutes they can be sure that the most vigilant care has been taken in the making of all Army parachutes in the factory each part of the parachute is measured and cut with Precision only the highest grade of silk or nylon is used every detail of cutting and assembly is Guided by trained hands and eyes after assembly the parachute isly examined before delivery it is taken into the air and drop tested for an accurate service check but most vital of all to the men in the air are the riggers who pack and maintain the service parachutes riggers must attain 100% mechanical skill 100% there can be no mistakes a mistake May kill a man standard construction for service equipment is the circular parachute the complete assembly consists of three main parts the canopy together with its suspension lines the pack assembly which contains the canopy when packed the harness which attaches the assembly to the man an auxiliary part is the pilot parachute fastened to the canopy the canopy gives the parachute its lift it is made of high- grade silk or nylon fabric its load is suspended by a framework of cords called suspension lines these lines are attached to the harness by means of connector links each line runs from a connector link up to the skirt of the canopy at the skirt the line enters a channel in the silk it crosses the Apex and runs down a channel on the other side it ends at a connector link on the opposite shoulder of the harness that part of a canopy between any two suspension iion lines is called a panel each panel is made up of sewn sections of fabric the fabric is cut on the bias so that the warp runs at a 45° angle to the center line of the section a lateral band of tape strengthens the skirt a double lateral band of tape strengthens the Apex the canopy is not solid at the Apex but instead has an open space over which is fastened an elastic mouth this is called the puckered vent the vent opens to relieve the first jerk and strain on the canopy when The Descent has slowed down to normal the vent closes in order to pull the canopy into position for opening more quickly the pilot parachute is attached to the Apex it is fastened by a 15-in bridal line with a bow and knot at each end the parachute is built much like the main parachute except that it has a spring to force it open when the rip cord is pulled the pilot parachute is forced open and into the Airstream where it drags the main canopy into position for Action the pack is the container in which the folded canopy and suspension lines are packed and carried these units come in types and sizes which vary according to their purposes the small seat parachute is designed for weights up to 180 lb with heavier weights its descent is more rapid the large seat parachute is designed for men of any weight the form fitting back parachute allows more freedom of movement and Carries either light or heavy jumpers the attachable parachute for personnel in small spaces has no specific weight limits the training double parachute of unlimited suspension weight has two independent packs on one harness all types of packs except those for training parachute Troopers have the same locking device the pack is locked by solid drawn wire prongs on the end of the rip cord from the Locking pins the rip cord passes through a protective flexible housing at the other end of the cord is the rip cord grip in order to force the pack to open more quickly pack opening elastics are attached which when the rip cord is pulled jerk the sides and ends of the pack away from the canopy for release of the parachute the rip cord handle is grasped and jerked the rip cord consists of stranded flexible steel cable the Locking pins are 2 and 1/4 in Long 1 in of the pin is wrapped in wire and soldered to the cable for specifications like these check with your technical order because both materials and dimensions are subject to change the best equipment is always being improved by science and research on the service type parachute the bottom of the pack is semi- rigid being reinforced by a frame of solid drawn wire suspension lines are held in place by Rubber Loops attached to a tape the tape is sewed to a false bottom the canopy lies on top of the folded suspension lines under the side flaps are the pilot parachute flaps which when the pack is closed form a separate compartment for the pilot parachute this separate compartment ensures quick release and prevents the pilot parachute from fing the canopy the parachute harness made of webbing attaches the parachute to the wearer the material is specified in the technical order webbing with a cotton warp and a nylon fill is used the chief parts of the harness are the two main risers continuous lengths of double three ply webbing which are attached to the suspension Lines by means of connector links from the connector links the right iers Loop down to form the seat swing and leg straps of the harness the rest of the straps are to keep the wearer from falling out of the harness no matter what position he is in the back straps are attached to the main risers at a point near the chest they go over the shoulders cross each other at the back run through an opening in the lift web Loop through the fasteners and are sewed together in back to form the horizontal back strap a breast strap locks the harness in position two adapters are provided for adjustments at or near the shoulders two more adapters adjust the leg straps and two adapters one on each side adjust the horizontal and diagonal back straps on many older harnesses instead of the two adapters there is one large triple adapter the harness is held on at the bottom by a Fastener on each of the two leg straps these Fasteners may be either of the snap and vring type or of the old bayonet type the top of the harness is held by the fastener at the chest the Flyer's kit bag conveniently holds the pack for carrying when the parachute is not being worn every passenger or operator of a military airplane must wear a parachute in the event of an emergency it is his Lifesaver its performance depends on proper maintenance and rigging every time a rigger packs or inspects a parachute he is taking into his hands some flyers life
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