“The Odd One Out” - The Main Parachute of T-11 Parachute System

Abstract

Two years ago as a member of the NTA AA SAD’s official delegation visiting the industrial centre of the Airborne Systems North America (ASNA), Santa Ana, California State. During a meeting on the wall of the ASNA’s Management’s building I noticed the Award of the Congress of the United States of America in a framed picture. In the picture there was a spectacular canopied airborne troop main parachute. It was my „first rendezvous” with the T-11. I was so impressed that I started further researches on this parachute. My study presents type T-11 system’s main parachute’s „unusual” deployment system and the structure of canopy are responsible for paratrooper’s safe landing. Apart from its characteristics and specifications, the study describes those technical solutions based on aerodynamical principles concisely which was intended to increase the safety level of the T-11’s in military implementation.