Coff,
As an ALM I did tours as an instructor, trials and development and as an examiner as well as a 'gash shag' on a squadron. I think I have dropped most things from the 'K' during my time. I was saving some pics for the right part in my tale but as this has cropped up now I will contribute but the pics will come later. The heaviest single item I have dropped was a grader which weighed 35000 lbs all up on the HSP (Heavy Stressed Platform) platform. The heaviest load I have dropped on a single run was 42000 lbs. This was 3 ULLA (Ultra Low Level= 10 ft ish) platforms each weighing 14000 lbs. Because of the extreme trim changes as the load departed it was not uncommon for the main u/c to kiss the DZ. I could bore for Britain on airdrop as I specialised in it and loved it. I may do so when we get to the pic sequence ! Unless whilst we are in airdrop mode you would prefer me to continue with the pics/tales.
As for the tale of the airdrop hitting the comms truck on the DZ, it is true. The USAF DZ party left their vehicle on the impact point. No one ever hits that do they ? Besides the USAF were dropping from 1200 ft whist we dropped reefed mains MSP from 600ft. One swing and it is on the ground. It hit and crushed the vehicle as it landed as intended. The USAF were more concerned about the comms Kit than about the vehicle !
I was on that Volant Rodeo detachment as an umpire, my second VR in that role. Pics and tales will arrive in their turn, but here is one for now. This is one of our MSP drops on that VR but not the one of which we speak.
