by 
Drublic
ANSWERS: 3
-
http://www.caterpillarclub.org/irvin/irvin.htm
-
From their web site: Before April 28, 1919 there was no way to jump out of a plane and deploy a parachute yourself. Some model of tethered parachutes were made, but if the plane spun out of control the parachute could not deploy. It was Leslie Irvin's dream to develop a chute that you could deploy at will. Irvin was asked to join the Air Corps parachute research team, and in April of 1919 he would test his design. It was thought that if you were to jump from a plane that you would not have any control of your limbs to deploy a parachute. Going at 100 mph 1000 feet in the air Irvin proved them wrong. With a smart pull of his rip cord Irvin's 28' chute deployed. His excitement from the jump caused Irvin to make a careless landing and he broke his ankle, but he considered it a small price to pay. Any person from that time on who jumped from a disabled aircraft with a parachute became a member of the Caterpillar Club. Regarding the name: The parachute main sail and lines were woven from the finest silk. The lowly worm spins a cocoon, crawls out and flies away from certain death, if it remains in sight of the cocoon.
-
Hi the caterpillar club is an exclusive membership, usually raf flyers, who have baled out of a stricken aircraft and their live having being saved by parachute acknowledged by an award of a gold caterpillar badge and membership of the club. After ww11 there were thousands of members worldwide and many caterpillar club associations holding anual reunions. Sadley numbers are dwindling and there is possibly only one uk club still meeting, the Caterpillar Club (NorthWest) Association who have a reunion dinner at Blackpool every march. There may not be many more held and anyone is most welcome to join us for the evening Terry Stacey, hon sec properly.tyled@yahoo.co.uk
RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC