shootar401 Posted November 23, 2015 Share #1 Posted November 23, 2015 I picked up this chute last week and I'm stumped on the model. aside from the sizing info on the pad there are no other markings except "USAF 51" and "81772" on the pack. Here is what confuses me is that the canopy is red cotton with white reinforcement webbing. At first I thought someone just stuffed a load of red cloth in the pack, but upon investigating further everything is correct. The risers are integral to the harness and suspension lines lead to the canopy. Everything looks to me correct to me. I know a bit about chutes having been in the military and from my own personal research. But this one has me stumped. Can anyone help with a model, date, any other info? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootar401 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted November 23, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDermut99 Posted November 23, 2015 Share #3 Posted November 23, 2015 I believe it is a British harness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootar401 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted November 23, 2015 I believe it is a British harness. At first I thought that too since the British used the box release, but it's marked "MIL-R-5867 Type B-2 A ONEIDA" Which unless the British got some parts from the US would make this a US harness, in theory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWII Parachutist Posted November 23, 2015 Share #5 Posted November 23, 2015 This has all the makings of a civilian rig from the early 1960's. At that time, most sport jumpers used chutes made from surplus components. The container is an AF back rig, with an airborne late model circa 1953 T-7 harness. My guess is the red cotton you are seeing is from a deployment sleeve. These were characteristic of the early sport rigs and made the opening shock tolerable. D-bags became common in later years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootar401 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share #6 Posted November 23, 2015 This has all the makings of a civilian rig from the early 1960's. At that time, most sport jumpers used chutes made from surplus components. The container is an AF back rig, with an airborne late model circa 1953 T-7 harness. My guess is the red cotton you are seeing is from a deployment sleeve. These were characteristic of the early sport rigs and made the opening shock tolerable. D-bags became common in later years. Ahhhhhh yes, that's it, a T-7 harness. The chute inside is actually not a deployment bag. I did a little more peeking inside last night and it looks to be a WWII era red cotton canopy like the kind use for aerial delivery containers. So far we have a WWII chute (maybe) connected to a T-7 harness. Any ideas on the pack? I picked it $125 only because I don't have a cute with a bang box, I had no idea it was a mix of parts. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWII Parachutist Posted November 23, 2015 Share #7 Posted November 23, 2015 I realize it certainly isn't a deployment bag, but are you sure it isn't a deployment sleeve? I have a hard time believing a person would be so incredibly foolish to try jumping a cargo chute, as they are constructed quite differently. Most sleeves are made from a colorful cotton material like aerial delivery canopies, with cotton reinforcement tapes. Sleeves are about 13 feet long, so when folded they look a lot like a canopy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootar401 Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted December 22, 2015 I opened the chute and sure enough it is a red deployment sleeve. The chute is a standard white/orange/OD military canopy on which someone sewed the initials "JD" on the canopy sections. Definitely a military surplus turned civilian chute. It's worth nothing to me in the condition it's in now, but the harness and canopy would make the base for a great restoration project if I can find a good pack assembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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