LAPES? More Like L'oops
The first procedure seen here is a LAPES, or Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System drop. It's used to bring heavy equipment and vehicles onto the battlefield.
Typically, the vehicles are strapped to special pallets. Upon (bumpy) arrival they are immdiately inspected and all the busted bits changed. And there are always busted bits.
Sometimes, however, there are more busted bits than others ...
Parachute extractions are a dodgy business anyway. I was once priveleged to watch as an airborne regiment dropped into Wainwright Alberta. A droning, staticy bullhorn announced each drop, punctuated with long silences as the nylon canopies fluttured earthward.
The men of the Blankety-blank Airborne Regiment ...
Long pause.
The officers and administrative staff ...
Long pause.
Etc. Until finally:
The Commanding Officer's jeep ...
Very--very--brief pause.
(Faintly)Well £µ©λ me ... didja see that? ... No, the 'chute didn't open I think ...
posted by Metro @ 3:07 pm
4 Comments:
Wow, M Metro
Another Winner
That Jeep roaring off into a distant but brave future ..... wow
G E
These were my favorite parts of the military airshows. Tanks parachuting out of the back ends of Hercs are one of the iconic images of my childhood.
@G. eagLE:
Actually, I think that's an RTFL--Rough Terrain Fork Lift. Still, it's a beautiful image: the vehicle escaping its bonds and escaping to run free with the herd ...
@RC:
Obviously someone spotted you early.
And that's why, at Khe Sanh, they banned LAPES to reduce ground casualties despite the entertainment spectacular . . . .
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