Swimmers Deploying from Gannets, no 'chute?
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Swimmers Deploying from Gannets, no 'chute?
I've just had an interesting conversation with a very down to earth ex CPO Diver (Special Forces was mentioned) who told me they used to jump from Gannets with no parachute, carrying but not wearing fins. He was in the Andrew 1960 - 1986.
Anyone care to elaborate on this procedure - it didn't sound like a leg-pull but you never know?
Anyone care to elaborate on this procedure - it didn't sound like a leg-pull but you never know?
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jump from Gannets with no parachute
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"Fitted for, but not equipped with …" 
Sounds an exceptionally dubious tale to me. i'm sure if that was achievable safely, the Seals or a similar US outfit would have made a TV show about it long ago. The water impact speed would inevitably be well in excess of 100 mph <defers to experts on minimum safe flying speed for a Fairey Gannet> and be almost certainly fatal.
Bribe him with a few more beers … and get him to tell you about abseiling onto the Radfan from a Hunter drop-tank.
Sounds an exceptionally dubious tale to me. i'm sure if that was achievable safely, the Seals or a similar US outfit would have made a TV show about it long ago. The water impact speed would inevitably be well in excess of 100 mph <defers to experts on minimum safe flying speed for a Fairey Gannet> and be almost certainly fatal.
Bribe him with a few more beers … and get him to tell you about abseiling onto the Radfan from a Hunter drop-tank.
Last edited by MPN11; 21st Oct 2013 at 16:13.
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The stalling speed of the Gannet under approach power, flaps down and at light weight is 70 - 75 kts for Marks 1,2,4 & 5.
The bulbous and unlovely AEW 3 (which was unlikely to be used for such fantastic schemes) stalled at 80 kts on approach power, similar conditions.
It should be pointed out that under those conditions there was no aerodynamic warning. When it stalled it was sudden.
The bulbous and unlovely AEW 3 (which was unlikely to be used for such fantastic schemes) stalled at 80 kts on approach power, similar conditions.
It should be pointed out that under those conditions there was no aerodynamic warning. When it stalled it was sudden.
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They probably used the Irish Parachute Regiment technique. They didn't pull their ripcord until 10 feet above the ground - if the chute didn't open then they could always jump those last 10 feet without injury.
There is always the possibility that he's getting his aircraft mixed up... Although difficult for the hardened Ppruner to believe, some people can't tell their ARES from their Belslow, and the chap might have confused the (say)Whirlwind and the Gannet. On one ACSC Realities of Conflict phase a veteran who had undoubtedly been there, done that, worn the T-shirt with court mounted DSO and MC (IIRC) caused some momentary but easily- rectified confusion when talking about the rotor blades of a Valetta becoming entangled in a Malayan tree...
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Perhaps the lack of wearing fins is the clue here.
Maybe he used to jump over land, and only needed the fins for later
I suppose many posters may find it hard to believe that jumpers exited airliners at high speed and in commercial air lanes, but that happened too.
The mention of a hunters drop tank reminded me of the pod designed for the Harrier wing!
Maybe he used to jump over land, and only needed the fins for later
I suppose many posters may find it hard to believe that jumpers exited airliners at high speed and in commercial air lanes, but that happened too.
The mention of a hunters drop tank reminded me of the pod designed for the Harrier wing!
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Stingray
yes they used a modified stingray torpedo a bit like the containers they dropped at Arnhem. The propeller ran in reverse to offer retardation during the decent. and then switched into forward a bit like some of those devices used by Smirsh in Thunderball!
I remember seeing the Harrier pod proposals. It may even have been in Flight International, probably mid 80s (post Falklands).
I think there may also have been proposals for seats on a pallet extracted out the back of a Hercules like ULLA - (AA62 will confirm - he loves ULLA!) I may be getting confused as this may have been a Russian proposal I saw in a TS Int brief.
The files from MAP12 of the era will have been properly archived and easily be retrieved. They will all have been declassified by now!
I'll get mi coat
I remember seeing the Harrier pod proposals. It may even have been in Flight International, probably mid 80s (post Falklands).
I think there may also have been proposals for seats on a pallet extracted out the back of a Hercules like ULLA - (AA62 will confirm - he loves ULLA!) I may be getting confused as this may have been a Russian proposal I saw in a TS Int brief.
The files from MAP12 of the era will have been properly archived and easily be retrieved. They will all have been declassified by now!
I'll get mi coat
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Last edited by MPN11; 21st Oct 2013 at 20:02.
I was asked by a "special" chap on Hermes in '82 if we could modify a SHAR 100 gall drop tank to take a bod with a parachute. The idea was to use a LOFT profile to insert said brave chasp, who would separate from modified tank and pull his cord at some time during the 30 sec ballistic flight and float gently to earth.
I laughed and went to the bar whilst he unfortunately boarded a Wobbletop that had an appointment with a wandering albatross.
Swing the lamp and thank god for those with fertile minds.
I laughed and went to the bar whilst he unfortunately boarded a Wobbletop that had an appointment with a wandering albatross.
Swing the lamp and thank god for those with fertile minds.
