The first successful parafoil drop was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1971. My grandpa was the prototype parachute maker for the Air Force and NASA and made all of the prototypes 1948-1973. He used 4 wood rings as sliders to slow down the opening of the canopy. Yes, he invented sliders.
I still have the prototype and it has never been on display to the public. I'm wondering if there is a 50th anniversary event scheduled somewhere?
Www.PrototypeParachutes.com has pictures & videos of all 30 prototypes. We gave 28 of them to the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, where grandpa worked.
