Ah yes....The US Army and parachutes for helicopters!
I was around when the discussion began....and upon hearing the plan involved removing the blades by means of explosive bolts...knowing it would be done by the lowest bidder, maintained by soldiers....well now that posed a few obstacles.
Mind you at the same time we were having problems with the Chinook shedding blades of its own accord....something about the incidence bolts shearing and thus allowing the blade to rotate ninety degrees in the socket.
I always wondered what the odds were all six blades would separate fully and simultaneously without destroying the aircraft.....what an experience that would be even if the system did work.
In those days the TO&E (Table of organization and equipment) for a Chinook company listed one parachute for use during test flights (and totally ignoring the minimum crew being listed as two pilots and a flight engineer).
The good old days!
