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Greg:
Most of the Heinecke harnesses were hemp webbing 50 mm wide. I am surprised that the fatality rate was so low, a design study iI did years ago showed the Heinecke Parachute was marginal at 100 mph at best.
Parachute design had to wait until around 1950 before the design strengths could be acturately predicted. We benefitted by the German designers came here after WW2. WW1 parachutes were designed by trail and error. Make a test chute, test it, modify it until it stayed together.
The modern parachute, used in ejection seats will stay together up to about 300 mph, it is here were the failures will start to occur. At 350 mph @ 2000 ft., you can kiss your a-- goodbye!
Blue skies,
Dan-San
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