Heavy demand for skyscraper-escape parachutes

The Times of India ^ | 10/21/01 | AFP

[Aliska]

Interesting thought. I'm mechanically impaired but something could be invented. What about bungi-type stuff . . . modified somehow to meet a different need.

Actually, a home inventor could build something like you suggest. It would have some kind of built-in braking system, hopefully simple, and a harness like you suggest made out of narrow nylon stuff. You might be able to ratchet your self down somehow.

[aomagrat]

LOL You will never know what hit ya..(the desk or the ground)

I had this vision of me crawling Wiley Coyote like out of a smoking hole in the pavement, only to be clobbered by the desk.

[The Other Harry]

I just checked the dollar to pound exchange rate, and the cheaper of the two from your link, Precision Aerodynamics, would be inline with executivechute pricewise, ~$720. But with Precision Aerodynamics' product you'd have to steer, and does it work from as low as the 10th floor as does executive chute's parachute?

I don't know.

My impression is that none of them really work all that well.

[Aliska]

Agreed. I don't know if I could summon up the courage to go with that contraption but with flames and the like, I could be induced to at least try.

I didn't know if people were hoping for helicopter rescue. It sounds like there would have been people on the roof hoping to be evacuated that way.

Maybe they were so caught off-guard that they couldn't coordinate a rescue attempt. Somewhere down the line maybe we'll be told why it didn't happen.

[joan]

"With my luck, the static line would pull the desk out with me instead of opening the parachute."

They could have special metal handles on the walls/floor specifically to be used for these parachutes.

[Ozymandias Ghost]

Remember there was total chaos, intense fire and smoke (and attendant updrafts), noone originaly expected the towers to fall and there were fighter aircraft circling with orders to shoot down ANY approaching aircraft.

[Nitro]

Except it could service many, for the fall!

Monty says hello!

[aomagrat]

They could have special metal handles on the walls/floor specifically to be used for these parachutes.

Good idea. That's probably the only way it could work. I can just see some dude hooking his line to his desk drawer handle (or door knob), only to have the drawer (or door knob) snatched out and follow him out the window.

[Damocles]

I'm good friends with one of the sales guys for this company, right here in my little ol town of Three Rivers. They really are overwhelmed with business and just bought a new building to increase their facilities. They were just interviwed on "The Today Show", 48 Hours, and Inside Edition. Really pretty big news for this cow town.

[Not now, Not ever!]

This same idea of an escape chute is used on some tall oil/gas rigs to get people down to the ocean surface.

I think they were used from about 400 feet up.

[Jay W]

Does anyone know why there were no attempts to rescue people from the roof by helicopter (not that I saw any pictures of people on the roof)?

Only the South Tower (the second one hit, but the first to fall) had an observation deck on the roof. However, this deck was inundated with smoke from the North Tower (the first one hit and the second one to fall). So, there would have been little point in getting to the roof of the South Tower -- one would be over come from the smoke inhalation, and likely would not have been visible to any aircraft.

As for the North Tower, it did not have an observation deck. Was there access to the roof, and if so, how easy was it?

[Squantos]

I'm still sulking about not being first to think of selling my urine to folks who have to take bioassy's all the time. That guy is richer than six foot up a bull's as...... never mind. Just think,... sit around all day drinking beer and making liquid gold ;o)

Now this parachute scam........Arrrrrghhh !

Stay Safe !

[golder]

Maybe, just maybe, they were right. You people never cease to un-amaze me. America.