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Aviation History
1929
1929 - 0109.PDF
JANUARY 17, 1929 RUSSELL "LOBE" PRODUCTION PARACHUTE LAST year the British Russell Parachute Company intro- duced their " Lobe " parachute to this country and gave exhibitions at Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware, which were fully recorded in FLIGHT at the time. The parachute had already been in production in America and used on air lines. It is the invention of an American engineer, Mr. J. Russell. It was whilst watching demonstrations in San Diego that Capt. B. L. Jones became interested and decided to form the British Company and produce here. Last year this came about. As we described before this parachute is individual in the design in its " lobe "-shaped canopy and independence of the pilot parachute. Rapid opening and a very slow rate of descent without any oscillation Last Monday, January 14, he made three descents in quick succession with different types. The conditions were not ideal, a fairly stiff wind blew, causing considerable drift during descent. Despite this the demonstration was successful in showing the better performance of the 1929 type. The first drop was from 1,000 ft. with the 1928 type, which embodied the slight alterations. A D.H. " Moth " machine was used, flown by Capt. W. L. Hope, the taxi pilot. A quick opening of the canopy was noticed, but there was a certain amount of swinging in the breeze. Unofficial timing tests revealed the time taken for the descent as 47 sees. Going up again as soon as the 1929 type was fitted on him, Mr. Tranum again dropped from about 1,000 ft., and a difference [" FLIGHT " Photographs RUSSELL " LOBE " PARACHUTE TESTS : Mr. John Tranum (right) who demonstrated Russell '• Lobe " parachutes at Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware, on January 14, from a D.H. "Moth" flown by Capt. W. L. Hope (left). In the other views Mr. Tranum is seen descending with (centre) the 1929 type, then the 1928 type (top) and finally a smaller 1927 type. or swinging during descent is claimed as a result of the Russell design. Last year slight improvements were carried out, but the final modifications have since been embodied in this year's type which is considered as safe and efficient as possible besides having an even slower rate of descent. Capt. B. L. Jones and Capt. H. C. Pearce state that they have obtained a 10 per cent, reduction on the rate of descent of the average parachute. The improvements have con- cerned the rigging and the diameter at the bottom of the lobe has increased. Safeguard has also been made against the parachute turning inside out. Production is now in hand and some parachutes have already been despatched abroad. The demonstrator, Mr. John Tranum, toured Europe last year and the parachute was well commented upon. in performance was easily apparent. The opening was much quicker and there was no oscillation or swinging during the descent, which was timed at 58 sees. Finally, a third and delayed drop was made. This was from 2,200 ft., and the demonstrator fell for quite 600 ft. before he pulled the ring and opened the canopy. This parachute was an American Russell type made in 1927, and is Mr. Tranum's personal property and the object of his personal liking. Most of his 500 descents have been made with it. It is smaller than the others but otherwise of the usual Russell lobe design. The drift was considerable during this descent, although he pulled repeatedly on the shroudlines and spilled air out of the canopy on the side in which he wished to drop. At 45
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