Bulldozer Question

[sapper740]

Originally posted by cletrac

The USAF tried dropping a D7 out of a Hercules in Vancouver in the 1960s and as the chutes opened they ripped off one by one but the Cat did make it to the ground, albiet in not too good of shape. They've perfected the technique since then!

Back in the '70s the CAF used to demonstrate both JATO take-offs and LAPES drops from a C-130 at the Abbotsford International Airshow. The load dropped was a small bulldozer sans blade, but it was always VERY impressive to see. They stopped doing this about the same time as I heard through the grapevine that the JATO bottles were over stressing the airframes and that an aircraft was lost during an operational LAPES somewhere. I've included a pic of a LAPES:

[Wayne McGee]

Indeed there was an aircraft lost with all aboard while conducting LAPES at CFB Namao, late 70's early 80's? due to the load hanging up after the chutes had deployed however, I beleive that the system is still practiced today.
Needless to say, that even from the ground LAPESing is a sphincter tightener.

Cheers

[Mike Timoshyk]

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=pRhFRGzh0s0

Hopefully this works....an oldie but a goodie



Mike

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Mike Timoshyk

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=pRhFRGzh0s0

Hopefully this works....an oldie but a goodie

What look like a rough terrain fork lift dropped from the Herc on a low pass, must have broke the land speed record for that type of vehicle.......