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.
This from the manufacturer's website:
As it is now, the system allows operation units to jump from a height of about ten kilo-metres and to cover a distance of up to 40 kilometres carrying up to 100 kilogrammes of equipment. Parachutists can thus penetrate into areas that are difficult to reach without their transport planes having to fly into a danger zone. At the same time, tracing this almost 100% silent parachute system using air or ground-based radar systems is extremely difficult. Night operations or operations under adverse weather conditions are possible.
With the newly developed wing, the radius of operation for the parachute is increased considerably. The parachutists can reach their target at a greater speed and are even less detectable than before. Also, the new wing allows them to operate unaffected, to a large extent, by wind conditions. The wing will be equipped with a guiding and stabilisation system. The integration of small turbo jet drives for UAVs in the second development stage will make it possible to carry persons over long distances without the need to jump from an extreme height.
ping
LOL! You'd truly need to be a b@da$$ to wear this thing, 'cause I've not seen anything as gay looking as this in a long time! LOL
Up in the Air, Junior Birdmen.
Once the paratrooper lands and engages in hand-to-hand combat, he'll look pretty silly, taking little hopping baby steps and trying to slap his opponent's shins with his wings.
Junior Birdmen
(Make circles with index fingers and thumbs and hold around eyes like goggles.)
Up in the air, Junior Birdmen.
Up in the air, upside down.
Up in the air, Junior Birdmen.
Keep your noses off the ground.
And when you hear the grand announcement
That their wings are made of tin.
Then you will know the Junior Birdmen
Have sent their box tops in.
It takes five box tops,
Four labels,
Three coupons,
Two bottle caps,
And one thin dime.
J U N I O R, B I R D M E N.
Junior Birdmen!
Oh don't worry it looks gay now, but once they paint on the camo and add some 50 cals on the wings then it will be kick ass
Well, with .50's on it, it's a different matter! I'll want one then!
No. BADA$$ is the first guy who pulls off a successfull 'belly' landing wearing one of these WITHOUT ever deploying his 'chute.
Next thing you know, there'll be a strap-on landing gear pack to go with it and the 'chute will be just for emergency backup.
Paint a white stripe on that thing, and you've got a flying Emperor Penguin suit!
Hum.....Wasn't that already on an episode of 'Alias'?
007
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-926587825785526870&q=jet+boots
You Gotta see the other half of 'Way cool, man'. Check out the helmet and the jet boots. All he is missing are the styrofoam wings.
LOL
Wonder if they've conducted "live tests"? Would love to see the video on this.
"Once the paratrooper lands and engages in hand-to-hand combat, he'll look pretty silly, taking little hopping baby steps and trying to slap his opponent's shins with his wings."
Has it occurred to you that instead of using their wings, they could use their peckers?
I'm betting that thing has avout 20 square feet of wing. If a hang glider with 150 squares, stalls at 22 MPH, then that thing (with a similar load) probably stalls at around 55. Hope you got a really flat LZ :)
I see some nasty training accidents happening in the near future.
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