Air Warrior Col. John W. Thompson - KMI Media Group
Air Warrior Col. John W. Thompson - KMI Media Group
Air Warrior Col. John W. Thompson - KMI Media Group
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the standard cable loop canopy release assembly. And both have<br />
the same five points of adjustment on the diagonal back straps.<br />
But that is where the similarities end. The D-ring attachments<br />
for the reserve are much higher, so the opening shock of the<br />
T-11 Reserve is spread along the long axis of the jumper’s body,<br />
eliminating lower back injuries associated with deployment of<br />
the legacy reserve parachutes. Nothing but the reserve fits on<br />
the D-rings—all other gear is attached to the equipment rings.<br />
There are separate triangle links on the lower portion of the<br />
harness for attaching lowering lines. With no other equipment<br />
attached to the D-rings but the reserve, there is no requirement<br />
for a safety wire on connector snaps on the reserve.<br />
The T-11 harness was specifically designed to fit 5th–95th<br />
percentile soldiers (160-332 pounds suspended weight). In<br />
addition, the T-11 harness was designed to accommodate<br />
jumping body armor. The T-11 harness on both the T-11 and<br />
MC-6 parachutes is approved for jumping with Improved Outer<br />
Tactical Vest, the Modular Body Armor Vest, and the KDH Plate<br />
Carrier. This allows the soldier to jump in the equipment worn<br />
into combat without having to get the body armor out of a<br />
parachutist drop bag or the MOLLE rucksack.<br />
rat e o f De s C e n t<br />
Another major advantage of the MC-6 is the vastly improved<br />
rate of descent over the MC-1.<br />
International Training Inc.<br />
The rate of descent for a 200-pound person at 9,000<br />
feet MSL is 17+ feet per second. The same person at 9,000<br />
feet MSL with the MC-6 has a rate of descent of 12 feet per<br />
second.<br />
for w a r D tH r u s t a n D tu r n ra t e<br />
The canopy of the MC-6 outperforms the MC1-1 in many<br />
other areas as well. The MC-1 takes 14 seconds to make a 360<br />
degree turn. The MC-6 turns 360 degrees in five-seven seconds.<br />
The MC-1 parachute has a forward thrust of 8 knots (9.5 miles<br />
per hour) while the MC-6 has a forward thrust slightly greater<br />
than 10 knots (11.5 miles per hour).<br />
fielDing<br />
As of September 1, 2010, PM-SCIE has fielded 12,316<br />
MC-6 parachutes (approximately 55 percent complete), with<br />
11,073 going to Army units and 1,129 to <strong>Air</strong> Force and Navy<br />
units. O<br />
For more information, contact SOTECH Editor Dave Ahearn at davea@kmimediagroup.com<br />
or search our online archives for related stories at www.SOTECH-kmi.com.<br />
Off-Road<br />
Unimproved Road Course<br />
www.SOTECH-kmi.com SOTECH 8.9 | 27