Posted on 06/02/2006 2:21:27 PM PDT by Reaganesque
This picture pretty much speaks for itself, but what you are looking at is the Gryphon parachute system, designed by ESG (Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH, if you must know) -- though if we had a company named ESG that made this, we might call it the UFO and get all No Wave on it for a sec. Anyhow, wearing the Gryphon, parachutists -- if you really want to call them that -- can apparently fly for up to 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) at rather high speeds before opening their chutes. Not suprisingly, it's aimed primairly at the military market, where it could potentially be used to drop off soldiers far away from their target, allowing them to fly under radar cover. And if you're thinking it can't possibly get any cooler, ESG says they're planning on adding freaking turbo jet drives to the unit, allowing for even greater speeds and lower take-off heights.
Maybe even pop the main 'chute 25' above the deck and pretty much just use it to stop safely.
Granted, it'd take some practice to figure out the exact dynamics, and that'd have to be done at higher altitude, but, if it works predictably, then not only is the insertion made from a distance, the inbound forces won't spend any time dangling underneath big parachutes begging for enemy fire from the ground.
It's possible that they could come screaming in at 140 knots, pop the 'chute for braking and be on the deck safely less than 30 seconds later.
Only badasses--my ass!
If they called me tonight and told me where to be tomorrow to try out this thing--I'M THERE, MAN! (And I'll bring the coffee and doughnuts too!)
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