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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1037.PDF
Willans performs here for the camera the act seen by thousands of spectators at Naval air displays—a delayed drop from a Westlond-Sikorsky S-S1 Dragonfly ("the perfect jumping platform"). (Below) The latest type oflrvin Training Outfit, as worn here by the author, consists of a 28ft back-type main canopy with releasable lift-webs and a 24ft reserve pack. Both harness and headgear are of nylon. The helmet, incidentally, is a parachuting version of the type designed for jet pilots by Helmets, Ltd., in collaboration with the Institute of Aviation Medicine. THIS WAY OUT Some Thoughts on Parachuting Technique - - - - By T. W. WILLANS THE author of this article, Major Terence ("Dumbo") Wfflans, writes from 11 years' experience of parachuting, in the course of which he has made some 180 descents. In 1950, performing the second of two tests of the Irving barometric release, he made a delayed drop of 16,000ft. Major Willans won fourth place for Britain in the 1951 World Para chuting Championship, and is the British representative on the F.A.I. Parachuting Commission, of which he is chairman. IT was recently announced in the French Press that the second world parachuting championship would not be held in that country, because the rules, suggested by the Parachuting Commission of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, made the competition "elementary." The Commission had suggested that delays of 22 sec upwards envisaged by the French organizers could prove dangerous, and might result in fatal accidents. This brings into the open a favourite topic of conversation between civil parachutists. How dangerous is a parachute descent which includes a long free fall before parachute deployment? There is no doubt that the delayed-drop technique practised by the French civil school, the result of many years experience, reduces the risk to a minimum for the type of equipment at present available. The recommended swallow-diving position, with trie back arched, has been shown to produce a high degree of stability during free fall, so permitting a clear view of the ground, and a good attitude in which to open the parachute It is, however, well known that a freely falling human body, making an attempt to remain in a face-down attitude will after reaching terminal velocity, probably turn onto »« tack and spm about its short axis. While the rate of rotation is difficult to assess without special instrumentation, it was estimated in a technical article of uncertain date and Russian origin to reach a maximum ot two revolutions per second. This figure appears possible The spin has been encountered by parachutists of several nationalities, in spite of attempts to maintain stability, and, once
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