Human Parachute Jumps

Before parachutes were used to recover space capsules they were used to decelerate humans during their fall.

Parachutes have played a crucial role in aviation and military history. The development started with the T4 parachute which was later evolved into the T5 and T7 parachutes.

The T4 parachute was developed during World War II. It was a versatile canopy used primarily by airborne troops. The T4 featured a round canopy with a central vent for stability during descent. It was manually deployed by the jumper and used for troop drops, cargo delivery, and emergency situations. Although phased out after the war, the T4 laid the groundwork for subsequent parachute designs.

The T5 parachute evolved from the T4 and saw extensive use during World War II. It incorporated improvements such as a quick-release box, enhancing safety and ease of use. Red panels on the T5 indicated compatibility with specific reserve chutes. Matching red to red or yellow to yellow ensured proper harness pairing. Some T5 parachutes likely participated in combat drops during the Korean War.

The T7 parachute emerged as a modification of the T5. It was adapted for cargo drops, training, and mobilization reserves. Converting surplus T7 canopies to the newer T10 design saved the army significant funds. The T7’s transition to the T10 marked an important chapter in parachute development.

In summary, these parachutes represent milestones in military airdrop technology. From the T4’s wartime service to the T7’s cost-effective conversion, their impact reverberates through history.

The T-10 parachute is a series of static line-deployed parachutes used by the militaries for combat mass-assault airborne operations and training. It was introduced in the early 1950s and has undergone several modifications since then. The T-10D, adopted in 2000, includes the detachable pack tray, which in itself includes the 15’ universal static line and 5’ extension static line. The T-10D is currently being replaced by the T-11 parachute system.

The T-10 parachute is an iconic symbol of military airborne operations and has played a pivotal role in ensuring the success and safety of personnel drops for several decades. Its design and deployment system have been refined over the years to ensure that it remains a reliable companion for airborne units. The T-10 parachute is a testament to the ingenuity and innovation of the military and its commitment to ensuring the safety of its personnel.

The T-11 parachute is the newest personnel parachute system to be adopted by the United States Armed Forces and the Canadian Army. It replaces the T-10 parachute, which was introduced in 1955¹. The T-11 parachute system consists of a main, a reserve, and a harness. The main canopy is a modified version of a cross/cruciform platform with an increased inflated diameter of 14% and a 28% increase in surface area compared to the T-10D assembly. The T-11 main canopy utilizes a unique deployment sequence to reduce the opening shock and canopy oscillation. The T-11 is designed to have an average rate of descent of 19 feet per second (5.8 m/s) for the 95th percentile service member, compared with 24 feet per second (7.3 m/s) with the T-10C. This reduction is intended to result in significantly lower landing injury rates for jumpers.

The reserve canopy is a derivative of the British Low Level Parachute (LLP) aero-conical design that includes apex scoop pockets at the top of the reserve canopy and skirt assist lines at the system’s hem to promote fast opening of the reserve system during low-speed malfunctions. Unlike the current reserve parachute system, the T-11R reserve uses an omni-directional, center-pull deployment system. The T-11 harness is designed to displace the opening shock forces of the reserve parachute equally along the long axis of the jumper’s body. The main canopy and harness weigh 38 pounds (17 kg), and the reserve assembly weighs 15 pounds (6.8 kg), for a total of 53 pounds (24 kg).

The T-11 parachute is designed to be deployed using either a 15 or 20 feet (4.6 or 6.1 m) static line, allowing the parachutist to be delivered by either C-130 or C-17 aircraft. The T-11 parachute system is authorized and certified for use on the Globemaster, Hercules, and Chinook aircraft¹.

The T-11 parachute is a testament to the ingenuity and innovation of the military and its commitment to ensuring the safety of its personnel. Its design and deployment system have been refined over the years to ensure that it remains a reliable companion for airborne units.