|
I'm not trying to excuse the attitude of the British Air Ministry and whichever RFC commanders opposed parachutes: but is it not true that Irvings parachute of 1922 [that Dan mentioned] was the first free-fall type? WW1 parachutes used static lines, so were of limited value in emergencies. The wearer had to be falling considerably faster than the a/c for the chute to deploy from its bag, so it was no good if the aircraft was diving or breaking up: and if it was spinning or tumbling the static line would become entangled.
True, Udet's life was saved by a parachute, but two of the other top ten German aces were killed when their parachutes failed to open - Lowenstein and Rumey. Both these suffered collisions, so their a/c would have been OOC.
Adrian
__________________
For Heathen heart that puts its trust/ in reeking tube and iron shard/ all valiant dust that builds on dust/ and guarding, calls not thee to guard/ for frantic boast and foolish word/ thy mercy on thy people, Lord (Rudyard Kipling)
|