Special Ops will get their wings

Interesting idea. It's going to need some work to achieve the performance they claim, but it might be possible.

I was fortunate enough to participate in the first official HAHO (High Altitude, High Opening) parachute tests at Ft Bragg in the early 70's. The highest jump we made was from 25,000 ft. After several years of regular freefall jumps it was "interesting" to say the least.
 
Frosty, my hats off to you! and in memory of all the 82nd units that got caught by the C-130's during jumps.. I have heard some nasty stories of how people have got hung up on a jump and nothing could be done 'till landing..by then it's too late, ok I went off subject... sorry
 
That is pretty cool...I'd like to see a video of someone landing with it though. I can imagine it can't be THAT easy to slow down enough to land safely or discretely.
 
dreppucci007 said:
That is pretty cool...I'd like to see a video of someone landing with it though. I can imagine it can't be THAT easy to slow down enough to land safely or discretely.
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At some point the jumper would have to deploy a parachute in order to slow down enough to land safely. The gliding the jumpers would be doing to more akin to WWII assault gliders than modern sport gliders. They would still be coming down pretty fast.

BTW, does anyone here remember the old Burt Lancaster - Gene Hackman film, The Gypsy Moths?
 
So, when is the civilian version being released ?
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I'm on it. But my test pilot keeps distracting me every time I try and spend some quality time with the aerodynamic equations. @#$ing ADD.

daniela-pestova-angel-wings-wallpaper-82159.jpg
 
According to the article, the wings provide a 6:1 glide ratio at a speed of over 200 mph. Needless to say, that's hardly a safe landing speed. Once they get over their target at about 1200 feet they'd pop a regular chute for the final descent. Sounds like a hell of a rush; I want one.

Ken
 
FPrice said:
At some point the jumper would have to deploy a parachute in order to slow down enough to land safely. The gliding the jumpers would be doing to more akin to WWII assault gliders than modern sport gliders. They would still be coming down pretty fast.

BTW, does anyone here remember the old Burt Lancaster - Gene Hackman film, The Gypsy Moths?
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That was the first thing I thought of when I read the article.

The jump team had some stunt called "the cape" (or something like that), and if not performed properly the jumpers arms could be torn off,
 
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