The MultiCam Pattern website shared this cool photo of Red Bull Air Force skydiver, Jeff Provenzano‘s new MultiCam wingsuit. It’s an Apache Rebel made by Tony Suits and is crafted from Duro Textiles’ MultiCam Theta fabric. He’s already jumped from 13,500 feet and flew for 3mins and 20secs in this suit.
To quote my friend Yancey, “Seems like the French had themselves a combat jump in Mali.”
This video by Pascal DuPont is the long version that shows the airland on the 27th of January into Gao and then concludes with the jump into Timbuktu on the 28th by the French Foreign Legion’s 2e REP ( 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment) including Harfang drone footage. Then there’s a bunch of other stuff.
In an award announced 17 January, 2013, the US Air Force has selected the HDT Storm SRTV as the Guardian Angel Air-Deployable Rescue Vehicle. As you may recall, the GAARV is an airdroppable, all terrain vehicle designed to transport Guardian Angel Weapon System members which consists of the Combat Rescue Officer (CRO), Pararescue (PJ), and SERE careerfields and their patients/survivors out of bad guy territory. As PJs are the guys who generally do this for a living, it will be for their use.
It’s good to see that the Storm SRTV won considering they have been chasing this requirement from the beginning. Since we first wrote about this BC Customs design, HDT purchased the rights and saw it through to the win.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo yet of the exact model that won but this is a photo of a Storm variant and looking back at the earlier BC Customs photos should give you a good idea of how this went.
Parachutists High Altitude Thermal Suit developed jointly with Airborne Systems and Wild Things. Initially, it was developed for a French requirement but refinements were made at the request of Natick and USSOCOM. Offered in XXSmall through XXLarge but its oversized to fit over the jumper’s clothing and basic equipment.
PHATS has been highly tuned for use by free fall parachutists. For example, there are multiple zippered vents so that the jumper doesn’t overheat on the ground or on the flight. Additionally, the front of the PHATS has less insulation than the rear since the parachutist will have equipment on his front. They made this change after jumpers from multiple units found that the insulation could be removed. Where insulated, it features gridded fleece. Additionally, it’s a softshell for wind and weather resistance.
As you can see, it covers the entire body except for the head to accommodate a helmet an oxygen mask. The coverall design even covers the feet for insulation as well as to mitigate wind resistance issues. There is a waist adjustment that is covered by the front opening and the main opening features a flap with magnetic closures. Gauntlet-style handcovers are also integrated into the design. Additionally, the rear of the legs feature clear pouches for chemlights. This allows jumpers to recognize one another in the air. Finally, there is an external forearm pocket on the left sleeve and large zippered cargo pockets.
Core Survival, makers of the HEL-STAR series of strobe lights, has updated their site.
In addition to the new look, the site has been tailored for viewing on various mobile devices including iPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Windows phone.
Australian manufacturer SORD is offering a package deal for their HAPO Rig. Designed for use by freefallers, it’s meant to be worn like a battle bra and features a joey pouch for 3 x 30RD shingles or can be closed up when not required. The commander panel is designed to be opened once under canopy with a Magellan GPS pouch inside the panel in a see-thru plastic pouch as well as spaces for glow-sticks as well as a map pocket. The ensemble comes with a radio pouch and webbing loops in the shoulders so antenna and the comms cord can be routed through the webbing and secured during free fall. As part o fthe package deal, they’ve included an essential bit of kit, the hook knife combo and armour carrier bag so you can stow all your equipment together when you leave the DZ.
The whole kit and caboodle comes with –
1 x HAPO Rig
3 x 30RD Shingle
1 x Commander Panel HAPO.
1 x Magellan GPS pouch see-thru
1 x Rigger Belt
1 x Hook knife combo
1 x Armour carry bag
I thought some of you jumpers might be interested in this parachutist helmet from MSA Gallet exhibited by Airborne Systems. It is a derivative of a Gallet helo helmet.
