Parachutes

[Nacho]

I have read in various places that in ww1 German pilots would actually carry parachutes with them when they took off into the air. I have only read that the Germans did this. Are there any reports on any allied pilots using parachutes with them as a safety measure just in case they were shot down.

[crankcase]

...the RFC decided not to issue parachutes to its pilots as a matter of policy because HQ thought this would undermine the aggressiveness of pilots (i.e. they would jump out instead of fight!). Little did the old men on their horses understand the mentality of a fighter pilot (or all air crews, for that matter).

This is a sore point which is criticized in Arthur Gould Lee's book "No Parachute" (Lee flew Sopwith Pups). Observation balloon crews, if i am not mistaken, were the only Allied personnel to get parachutes because they were considered to be defenceless.

The Germans were "smarter" because pilots were a scarce resource.
marc

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Nacho:
The German Heinecke Fallschirm was developed by Uffz. Heinecke who was a member of [I]Feldluftschiffer Abteilung23, (F.L.A.23) and later while in the spring of 1916 he wasin F.L.A.37, there conducted a series of drop tests and from these tests of a parachute of his design. Following the drop tests, live test were authorised. This design went through a long series of tests. The original design was modified and it was this design went into production and was apprved by IdFlieg for use in aircraft in 1917. Uffz. Heinecke licensed Schroeder & Co. to manufacture the parachute for the Luftstreitkäfte. The Heinecke Fallschirm was a seat type, static l;ine operated. The Luftstreitkäfte supplied the parachute as Government Furnished Equipment to each manufacturer. Fighter aircraft delivered in early 1918 were furnished the Heinecke fallschirm, first in January 1918 and C and Cl class later in 1918. Over one hundred pilots and observers lives were saved with the Heinecke Fallschirm. The design was a 100 mile/hrour design, it was adequete at best. Several pilots lives were lost through failures, mostly of the harness, However it was better than nothing!
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Rick]

Otto Heinecke, if anyone cares.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hi Rick:
Glad to see you post on this thread. In all the stuff I have on Heinecke, his first name is never given. Thank you, now I know his first name.
Very blue skies to you Rick,
Dan

[Epee]

MvR was wearing a parachute when he was killed was he not?

[FlyXwire]

Here's some more info on German parachutes from British war intel: