It sort of says something about humanity - I'm not sure what - that we're always trying to improve things, no matter how basic and how well they might already work. Case in point: parachutes. Just when you thought that laughing in the face of death by jumping out of a plane couldn't get any easier, someone had to go and prove you wrong.Indeed, the U.S. military has invented new chutes that offer a "softer" landing than existing models. The T-11 Advanced Tactical Parachute System, which is expected to go into service later this year, features a bigger canopy and a lower "opening shock rate," which means the paratrooper will get less of a jolt when the parachute deploys.
The parachute also slows the rate of descent, so the soldier will have a considerably less abrupt landing. Military brass are saying this will greatly reduce the number of injuries. Check out the video:
It kinda makes you wonder about things that we would generally think have reached their technological zenith, doesn't it? Is the military spending tons of money and years on making softer pillows? Spoons that stir better? Garbage cans that hold trash better?
Posts
1 comments:
good god, you need to read about the British and Polish para drop at Arnehm in '44, not to mention D-day with the Brits + 82nd and 101st and see how broken ankles, lost kit and madly dispersed landing caused difficulties and deaths...
Post a Comment