[freepersup]

Correction- I've been on board a C-141 when 3 pallets of vehicles daisy chained together were dropped by parachute. Reason I know: (we) parachute riggers had just heavy drop rigged the loads at Ft. Lee, Virginia, and dropped the loads at Ft. Pickett, Virginia, at Blackstone (drop zone). Actually it was done all the time, along with C-130's.

The C-17 has become the newest workhorse for air drops. Out in Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Az., airborne heavy drop testing is conducted to establish protocol for air dropping equipment and supplies out of allied aircraft, establishing weight limits and parachute rigging configurations.

What was used when I was in the airborne forces, was a large 'sled' that was designed to accept (add on) weights, in order to push the maximum load limit for airdrops, in ongoing experimental tests.

Airborne heavy drop protocol exists for C-5's, C-141's, C-130's, C-17's (relatively new), & even as late as 1982 when I was first in the Army, C-123's.

[Theophilus]

You're right!

I didn't know those petal doors could open in flight. Still I understand that the MOAB is dropped by the C130. I'd like to see a C5 drop. I thought cargo was loaded from the nose!?!?!?