I was watching a documentary on the De-Haviland Canada Caribou earlier today and noticed a clip of a private contractor dropping supplies, to US ground forces in Afghanistan, from an updated version. I think that I found a clip of the same drop taking place on Youtube.
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Impressive accuracy. If something jams on the ramp I guess it gets very dicey very quickly.
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
Not really going to happen but if it did they would just do a racetrack and drop it next pass. They use gravity for the drop, you see them go nose up and release. Parachutes are on static line so they open once clear, unlike LAPES.
The aircraft is so accurate because of the low approach airspeed and you see the shape of the air-frame, all done deliberately. We had an aircraft land in a football field and then turn and take off again, that's how they were designed.
Also the approach into the wind so they slow right down and the payload is drifted right back where they released... You'd be right there beside the DZ party Ovidio, waiting for rations and ammo...watching the airshow. Specially the last shot up in the mountains, that would be you...snow...
When I was a Pathfinder Instructor at Ft. Benning during late 70s and early 80s we utilized Air Force Reserve C7 Caribous to run our drop zone phase of training. The pilots were all Vietnam era pilots and were amazing in their handling of their aircraft. Our DZs were postage stamp size that could only accept 2 to 4 jumpers at a time. After every drop. the load master would put all the deployment bags and static lines in a kit bag and the the pilots would make a "bombing run" on our jeep trailer and try to put it in the trailer. They would come in so slow and low we would lower our antennas to prevent an aircraft strike. More often than not, they would strike the trailer and usually land it inside. Any strike earned them a case of beer from the Instructors running that site.
I had absolute respect and admiration for those talented pilots and crew.
Unfortunately, "Mother MAC" C-130s took over flying in 1982 and all the fun ceased.
DHC Caribou, according to an old ex-RAAF friend: "Ten thousand rivets flying in close formation".
Got to be a passenger in them a few times; their reputation for STOL performance is well deserved. A couple of the strips we landed at were little better than slightly-widened gravel roads.
Caribou earlier today and noticed a clip of a private contractor dropping supplies, to US ground forces in Afghanistan, from an updated version. I think that I found a clip of the same drop taking place on Youtube.
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Originally Posted by Surpmil
