The rear ramp has just raised...the turboprops are coming to full power..the aircraft begins to pick up speed for a short field take-off....
Tension builds within the C-212 as the two jumpmasters (JMs) MSG Lee Cashwell, SF (Retired) and Skip Somers prepare the ramp bundle for the first pass over the drop zone (DZ) as SF 18D Medical Specialist SSG Ernest Hoppe looks on. They wear ram-air parachutes held inside a piggyback container/harness system that is very compact and this simplicity translates into greater maneuverability inside aircraft in flight. The piggyback arrangement needs to be used in a future T-21 parachute system to replace the cumbersome T-10/MC-1 series parachutes worn by the 1st TSG (A) Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) team for this operation. Two ATBs are kept in a non-folded condition to demonstrate how they can be easily air-delivered as a separate load using small G-13 cargo parachutes. Underneath the Montague folding ATBs is a Roleez Wheel System fat-tire All-Terrain All-Purpose Cart (ATAC) which will later be towed with a mannequin "rescued hostage" by a designated ATB/cyclist for 35 miles after the parachute assault.
Continue to next Operation: Dark Claw picture
Return to Light Bicycle Infantry