Anyone Know Anything About Parachutes?

[browningautorifle]

Did they do LAPES in WWII.

Nope, just parachute drops from Dakotas and such.

[Sapper740]

This parachute looks very similar to yours with a 2009 manufacturing date. Most canopies were taken out of service after 12 years use.

[browningautorifle]

This parachute looks very similar to yours

I think the difference on that one was it has suspension lines through the apex and there's no gromets used, suspension lines are always sewn. I've never seen gromets used.

[Sapper740]

I've never seen gromets used.

True that. I found a picture of a German parachute flare dropped over Tobruk that looks similar to the OP's.

[browningautorifle]

Probably about right.

[Aragorn243]

Closest one I've seen is in the first link I posted on page one. Here is an enlarged photo taken from that link. It has the same stitching and the metal gromets. It is also the same size 16 ft in diameter. Said to be WWII silk drogue chute.



My uncle's been dead over 30 years, no way he passed a 2009 chute to my dad. The German one isn't even remotely close.

[Glynn863]

I have a radial panel (slightly pie-shaped) from a Japanese parachute that my grandfather sent home during WW2. It is silk.

[Aragorn243]

The US stopped using silk in 1943 and went to Nylon. I believe the two I have are nylon but not sure. Pretty sure it's a drogue chute of some sort but for what, I have no idea. Way too small for a man, not for large cargo either. Maybe ammo box drops, food, other supplies.

[Flying10uk]

I thought that silk generally has a bit of a "sheen to it" but the fragments of silk parachute that Posted pics of, post 2, don't. As stated they have been in a fire which may have affected their appearance.

[browningautorifle]

These guys make them, there are measurements accompanying. Flare Parachute - Mills Manufacturing