riggerrob 558 #1 August 8, 2011 Fellow skydivers - and gadget freaks - let us allow out minds to wander for a few minutes and ponder what parachutes would have looked like if they had been perfected a century earlier. Remember that - back in 1900 - airplanes had not been perfected yet, so balloons were the only way to fly. ... and the most advanced flying machines emerged from the shops of Count Zeppelin. What would a steam punk parachute look like? The harness would definitely have large, ornate, brass hardware. We are talking about hardware that is more complicated than the French were building back during the 1950s. think "steel" chest strap! The harness would be hemp or cotton. Steering toggles would be orantely-turned hard-wood. The container would definitely be cotton, with brass stiffeners. The canopy and lines would probably be silk. But what shape would the canopy have? ... round ... a refined LeMoigne with ribs underneath ... triangular ... oval ...? But if it were only designed for low-speed deployments - from dirigibles - it might be PAINTED silk, with so much paint that the canopy was rendered water-proof. The edges of the canopy would be trimmed in lace, anti-inversion netting. If it were designed for freefall, then it would need a complex Opening Shock Inhibitor with a clockwork mechanism that would compare altitude, rate of descent, opening-shock, etc. The AAD might be so sophisticated that it could be re-set for "main" or "reserve" with the mere twist of a key. Mind you, the calculations would be so complex that only Master Riggers - holding Phds - would be allowed to hold the sacred keys. The Automatic Activation Device would be a large, brass box on the chest. It would have a clear glass window that would either show a clock-work mechanism or a flickering, blue electric arc. Brothers and sisters, please allow your imaginations to run wild, un-restricted by stereo-types created by the likes of Jalbert, LeMoigne, Booth, Rogallo and Poynter. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 51 #2 August 8, 2011 Wow! OK, what about Diesel Punk? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #3 August 8, 2011 How many beaver pelts for a re-pack? ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnmatrix 21 #4 August 8, 2011 Awesome! Polished brass helmet, with green patina for the older jumpers? Camera chest mounted, large format format film extendable box-type lense? Boosters with engines for tracking, pressure gauges on each legstrap. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NovaTTT 1 #5 August 8, 2011 Quote The Automatic Activation Device would be a large, brass box on the chest. It would have a clear glass window that would either show a clock-work mechanism or a flickering, blue electric arc. This Message Brought To You By The Timothy Leary High Class of 1984. Reunion Was Out Of This World, Man! ETA: On the serious side - pretty cool idea and imagery, Rob. Mock-up?"Even in a world where perfection is unattainable, there's still a difference between excellence and mediocrity." Gary73 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
