Slovak Parachute for US-pilots in WWI?

[rammjaeger]

I saw this on an a site in the Internet:

>>Stefan Banic, a Slovak inventor, constructed a prototype of a parachute in 1913 and tested it in Washington D.C. in front of the U.S. Patent Office and military representatives by jumping from a 41-floor building and subsequently from an airplane in 1914. His patented parachute became a standard equipment for U.S. pilots during the World War I.<<

Any comments?

[stephen]

No parachute was issued as "standard equipment" to any US unit that I ever heard of. Dan San is Da Man on this one... he's neck deep into 'chutes. What about it, Dan?

[Dan_San_Abbott]

rammjaeger:
I never heard of the person. The first parachutes issued to pilots in the US Air Service in 1922.
In 1918 the Parachute Committee was formed and headed By Major E.L.Hoffman. They aquired every parachute available anywhere, the Guardian Angel, the the British Mears & Spencer, a French parachute, (I have forgotten its name.) The German Paulus and Heinecke. American parachutes were the Baldwin, The Irvin and my Grandfather's parachute. All of these parachutes were derived from parachute. The committee was based at McCook Field. They tested all of these parachutes to distruction and were found short of the mark for use in an airplane. One of the parachute canopies was an Irving that Leslie Irving used at county fairs jumping from balloons and low speed aircraft. When it was tested it was found to be strong enough for use in aircraft. The men on this committee were Guy Ball, Floyd Smith, J.M. Russell. Floyd smith came up with the harness Guy Ball the pack, all were contributors the the original S-1 seat pack. From it Leslie Irving established the Irvin Air Chute Company, Guy Ball went to work for Irvin. Floyd Smith founded the Pineer Parachute Company. J.M Russell set up the Russell Parachute Company and Major Hoffman setup the Triangle parachute Company. Major Hoffman Triangle Parachute replaced the S-1 parachute in the USAAC. Major Hoffman was awarded the Collier Trophy in 1927 for this very good parachute. Leslie Irving set up Irvin Parachute Companies in US (2), Canada, UK, Germany, France, Soviet Union, Roumania, Sweden and other countries and Irving held all the patents. Every air force in the world used the Irvin Parachute. I am not sure about Italy. What was that Slovak's name?
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[rammjaeger]

Thanks. I did never hear about him too!

Here is the source for the strange claim:

http://www.slovakopedia.com/s/stefan-banic.htm

[stephenl]

Gentlemen, I would also like to add that there is not nor I believe there ever was a 41 story building in Washington, DC. I will have to double check my sources on this one. The tallest building in DC as of now and has been for a long time is the Washington Monument. Which stands at 555' and some inches.
They also mention a 15 story building but jumping from 15 stories I would think is not to smart?
Glad to see you made it back Rammjaeger! I have been meaning to write you but I figured you would be busy for sometime.
Regards
Stephen