New parachute accommodates today’s Soldier

by Eve Meinhardt
Paraglide

	T-10 photo courtesy of 89th Airlift Wing PAO; T-11 photo by Eve Meinhardt/Paraglide

As paratroopers gradually make the transition to a new parachute, the skies of Fort Bragg will no longer be filled with the familiar, rounded shape of the T-10 returning Soldiers and their equipment to the ground. Over the next few years, the 1950s era parachute will be replaced with the new T-11 model, designed for today’s Soldier carrying a heavier load.

When the T-10 parachute took the skies in the 1950s, the average weight of a paratrooper and his equipment was less than 300 pounds. As Soldiers and their equipment got heavier over the years, the average rate of descent increased from 18 feet per second to 23.5 feet per second.

“Today’s Soldier has a larger frame and is carrying more field equipment,” said 1st Sgt. John R. Coomer, Fort Bragg Advanced Airborne School first sergeant. “The Soldiers and the equipment they carry can weigh in excess of 400 pounds, making the rate of descent 23.5 feet per second. This results in more injuries during training jumps.”

The average rate of descent with the new T-11 is 18.5 to 19 feet per second. Coomer said when compared to the T-10, the new parachute results in a 49 percent reduction in impact when the paratrooper lands. This greatly reduces the chance of jump-related injuries.

The parachute’s design also incorporates an adjustable harness and dedicated equipment rings.
“The harness is adjustable for the torso instead of just being adjusted across the back. There are also back-strap pads to make the harness a little more comfortable and the reserve parachute attaches higher. So, if a paratrooper has to activate their reserve, it better spreads the energy throughout the body, decreasing the chances of a lower back injury,” said Coomer.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Perinon, an airdrop systems technician with the 11th Quartermaster Sustainment Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division has tested and jumped with the new parachute. He said the T-11 will benefit paratroopers of all sizes and military occupational specialties.

“I really like the T-11,” said Perinon. “It is a totally combat designed chute and the ability to handle a 400-plus load capacity is going to make a significant difference for these Soldiers who are taking 100 pounds of equipment into combat. The T-10 was a good chute, but times have changed and the T-11 will accommodate that.”

Staff Sgt. Derek Chambers, a jumpmaster assigned to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Abn. Div., has over 140 static line jumps. He has jumped with the T-11 four times and performed jumpmaster duties for three T-11 jumps. He said he is impressed with the new parachute.

“It is a really good parachute and the reserve is very good as well. Overall, I think the whole system is an improvement over what we have with the T-10 and I look forward to jumping with it more often,” said Chambers. “I think the T-11 is going to have a very long career with the 82nd Airborne Division.”