[Dan_San_Abbott]

Adrian Roberts:
You are technical correct, The Irvin was not the first free fall parachute, The Broadwick was. However, structurally it was no better that the the various static line balloon parachute being used.
The Irvin Seat Pack was the result of 4 years of testing by the U.S.Army Parachute Committee at McCook Field, Dayton Ohio. In 1918 when the Committee was formed at McCook, The Committee acquired all Military and civilian parachutes then in use. They then did a study of all these parachutes, from which came the U.S.Army S-1 seat pack parachute. Several inventions were made and patented by members of this Committee, the chief beneficary was Leslie Irvin. The members of the Committee established the parachute industry in the United States, Pioneer Parachute Co., Triangle Parachute Co. The Russel Parchute Co. And The Irvin Parachute Co. Irvin established factories,2 in the U.S.A., in England, France, Canada, Roumania and I believe the USSR. By 1925 the Irvin Seat pack was used by almost all air forces in the world.
blue skies,
Dan-San