T-11 parachute test in progress at YPG

Useful for seizing isolated air fields deep behind enemy lines, which can then be used to receive and deploy more troops and armaments, the tactic of mass parachute jumps was used successfully by American forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The T-11 personnel parachute offers jumpers a slow and stable descent, especially in high winds, and can support more weight than previous parachutes, a crucial advantage for warfighters who carry robust, heavy gear. Also, since the T-11’s canopy deploys slowly and further away from the aircraft than preceding parachutes, the Army was able to increase the gross cargo weight of a C-17 aircraft by 15,000 pounds, which allows the aircraft to safely carry more fuel or cargo.

During developmental testing at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) in the early years of the 2000s, the T-11 proved to be a remarkably robust system, able to compensate for multiple kinds of malfunctions that testers intentionally rigged into it: When they tied the hem shut, the T-11 still inflated through corner vents. Even when testers put different reefing lines throughout the canopy and

tried to restrict airflow inside, it still inflated.

Now long-fielded, the T-11 is still returning to YPG for further refinements and improvements. In addition to testing a new pack tray, testers are currently testing improvements to the T-11’s reserve parachute, which Soldiers count on in the unlikely event the T-11’s main parachute didn’t deploy.

“If a jumper exited the aircraft, did his six-second count and had no main above his head, he would pull the reserve parachute,” said Martin Gilbert, test officer.

The test doesn’t utilize live jumpers, instead using torso mannequins with stubs for arms to simulate jumpers. The mannequins were ballasted with weight, then loaded onto an aluminum deployment rack specially designed and constructed by YPG engineers that is loaded into the cargo bay of a C-17. The deployment rack allows the air crew to move and deploy the mannequins by means of a large crank, ensuring a safe and uniform drop from the aircraft.

“We did low speed reserve deployment with the main parachute fully inflated to check that the reserve uprights don’t entangle with the mains on deployment,” said Gilbert.

Since there is no physical instrumentation on the parachutes themselves during these tests, evaluators depend on GoPro cameras in the aircraft and groundbased tracking instruments for video and data of each parachute’s deployment, particularly the critically important first seconds of flight. Once each airdrop is

Now long-fielded, the T-11 parachute is still returning to YPG for further refinements and improvements. In addition to testing a new pack tray, testers are currently testing improvements to the T-11’s reserve parachute. (Photo by Mark Schauer)

The air crew loads the parachutes on aluminum deployment racks specially designed and constructed by YPG engineers. (Photos by Mark Schauer)

LEFT: The aluminum deployment rack are loaded into the cargo bay of a C-17. The deployment rack allows the air crew to move and deploy the mannequins by means of a large crank, ensuring a safe and uniform drop from the aircraft. BELOW: Testing personnel receive a safety briefing inside the cargo bay of a C-17. They will be deploying the T-11 test parachutes from the aircraft.