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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 0678.PDF
420 \\ April I9SI FIVE-MILE "FREE FALLS"V Successful Automatic-parachute and Ejection-seat Tests by U.S.A.F. AN experimental delayed drop with an automatic-release para-J\ chute from an altitude of more than eight miles has been •L JL made by a U.S. Air Force officer, according to a recentU.S.A.F. announcement. The 42,449-ft jump exceeds the highest previous bale-out recorded by the U.S. Air Force by more than 2,000 ft.Capt. Richard V. Wheeler, of Watertown, Mass., established the new figure during recent tests of an automatic-release parachute, atHolloman Air Force Base, Alamogordo, New Mexico. During this programme the 40,200-ft drop made by Col. W. R.Lovelace in June, 1943, was surpassed on two other occasions— by Capt. Vincent Mazza, with jumps from 42,213 and 41,586 feetrespectively. Both Wheeler and Mazza were members of a six- man-crew of officer and airmen volunteers who tested the newequipment. The tests were conducted jointly at the New Mexico base by theU.S. Air Force Aero Medical and Equipment Laboratories, the U.S. Air Materiel Command. None of the jumps was specificallyintended to establish a record. They were part of a programme of 14 such bale-outs to test the opening device, which (in the absenceof official information) may be assumed to be of the barometrically- actuated type. The purpose of such devices, of course, is to get thewearer through the rarefied upper atmosphere as quickly as pos- sible, and also to render his parachute independent of his ability, orotherwise, to operate the release manually. The test drops were made from a B-17 at 55ooo-ft intervals abovean initial altitude of 25,000 ft and the parachutes were set to open at 15,000 ft.Approximately half the tests were made with a pilot-ejection seat which was dropped from two rails installed in the bomb bay of theB-17. Immediately after the seat left the aircraft a small "drag" parachute was automatically opened to steady its fall. The jumperremained strapped in the seat until he reached 15,000 ft, at which point the jumper's seat-harness was automatically released and thepersonal chute opened. In free-fall tests without the ejection seat, Capt. Mazza wasdropped from the altitude of 41,586 ft, mentioned above. Each jumper carried about 70 lb of oxygen and ancillary equipment, BROUGH APPRENTICES REWARDED APPRENTICES at the Brough factory of Blackburn and**• General Aircraft, Ltd,, are encouraged to make theoretical studies at Hull Technical Colle§* during the time that they are" iving their practical training -in <he various production depart-ments. Feeling that recognition of these young men's abilityshould also bring them some financial advantage, Mr. RobertBlackburn, O.B.E., the chair- inaugurated his scholar-^ scheme some seven years Under this scheme anprentice who attains the high- standard in passing theiinary National Certificate, id also receives outstandingforemen's reports, qualifies for an award to a value of £125.This award is granted with the express intention of partiallydefraying expenses involved in attending the full-time HigherNational Diploma course in aeronautical engineering, estab- lished 16 years ago. It is now announced that for 1950-51 thescholarship has been won by Engineering Apprentice I. A. Hall (picture above) and that awards are being continued for the bene-fit of two others, Drawing-office Apprentice J. D. Mann and Engineering Apprentice C. J. Robinson. /. A. Hall (Left) Capt. Wheeler, photo- graphed a few minutes after his 42,449-ft drop. (Right) Harness, oxygen and other equipment used in the tests. exclusive, of course, of theejection seat. In some cases the free-fallportion of the jump took as long as two minutes. Specialradio and telemetering equip- ment was attached to the seat,enabling the jumper to des- cribe his reactions to engineers and medical officers. Leads from the telemetering equipmentwere taped to each man's body and automatically transmitted body temperature, respiration and heart-beat.Upon landing; the man was given an immediate physical examination. All the tests were completed without injury or loss ofconsciousness. Standard winter flying suits and U.S.A.F. crash helmets were worn during most of the programme. Several of thevolunteers, however, wore bright pink fluorescent-treated flying suits to aid radar operators and cameramen in following thedescent. So far as has been revealed, no tests have been made in thiscountry from comparable altitudes. Thus, as so often happens, America seems likely to take the credit, this time for the develop-ment of automatic-release parachutes. Readers of Flight will recall that on July 31st last year a barometric-release parachute—developed by Irving Air Chute of Great Britain, Ltd.—was tested in this country by Maj. Terence Willans, who jumped froma Lodestar at 25,000 ft, his canopy opening when he had fallen 16,000 ft to the pre-set altitude of 9,000 ft. This was a private-venture experiment and, had an appropriate aircraft been available, the equipment would undoubtedly have functioned equally wellunder altitude conditions comparable with those of the U.S. tests. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Apr. 13. College of Aeronautics, Cranfield: Senior Common Room, Society's Annual Dinner. R.F.C. »nd R.N.A S. Second Reunion. Helicopter Associi'.ion: Film Show, R.Ae.S.—Night Hop and History of the Helicof.:?r. R.Ae.S.: Discussion: "Air Travel from the Passenger's Point of View." R.Ae.C. Film Show: Flying Club, 1925-50, film and commen^ tary by A. Graham Head, and Eagles of the Fleet. Exeter Aero Club Rally. First International Helicopter Competition, Ic.'y. Foire de Paris Rally, Toussus-le-Noble. R.Ae.S.: Garden Party. White Waltham. Isle of Wight Air Races. Aero-Club de France: Champagne Rally. S.M.A.E. International Model Competitions. S.S.A.F.A.: Air Display, Hucknall. Notts. Derby Aero Club: "At Home" and Flying Display. Helicopter Association: Annual General Meeting. Kent Coast Flying Club: "At Home" (sponsored by A.B.A.C.). Newcastle-on-Tyne Air Display. Wolverhampton Aero Club; "At Home" and Goodyear Trophy Race. Yorkshire Aeroplane Club: International Rally. Air Circuit of Sicily. Rally and Race, Fairwood Common Aerodrome, Swansea. Lancashire Aero Club: "At Home" (sponsored by A.B.A.C.). Royal Danish Aero Club: International Rally. Paris Aero Show. F.A.I. International Model Competitions. International Rally, Flers, France. Boston Aero Club: Rally. R.Ae.C.: Festival of Britain National Air Races, Hatfield. Ailes de Main Rally, France. Northern Heights Model Flying Club: Gala Day and Queen f Cup Contest, Langley Airfield. June 24. International Rally, Pisa, Italy. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. May May May May May May May May May May May June June June June June June July June June June June June June 13. 21. 26. 26. 28. 29. 5-8. 6. 12-13. 12-14. 13-14. 14. 19. 19. 20. 26. 26. 2-4. 8-10. 9. 10. 15-18. 15- 1. 16-17. 16-17. 16-17. 23. 23. 24.
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