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June 07, 2006
G.I. Joe, Call Your Office!
(Jimmy Akin)
Man, if the guy in the photo on the left only existed in the real world, with real, functional flying wings like the ones he's got on, that would be WICKED COOL, wouldn't it?
Well, he does! And it is!
It turns out that
Elite special forces troops being dropped behind enemy lines on covert missions are to ditch their traditional parachutes in favour of strap-on stealth wings.
The lightweight carbon fibre mono-wings will allow them to jump from high altitudes and then glide 120 miles or more before landing - making them almost impossible to spot, as their aircraft can avoid flying anywhere near the target.
Posted by Jimmy Akin in Technology | Permalink
Comments
It's already been done:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/871/217/1600/FlyingBillboardNun.0.jpg
Posted by: Fr. Stephanos, O.S.B. | Jun 7, 2006 1:05:35 PM
Ha ha, I'm dying Father.
Those wings would be cool for the next Bond movie.
Posted by: BillyHW | Jun 7, 2006 1:10:01 PM
"ESG claims the next stage of development will be fitting 'small turbo-jet drives' to the wings to extend range even further." Commando Cody lives!
Posted by: bill912 | Jun 7, 2006 1:12:29 PM
and how much did they have to pay the first "testers" when they took away their time-proven parachutes and said, "hey, strap this on and now jump from 40,000 ft!
talk about heroic virtue or else, again, no brains... (or no choice, "yes, sir")
Posted by: Tim M. | Jun 7, 2006 1:24:09 PM
How much does this have to do with Secret Project #4, Jimmy?
Posted by: Jeff | Jun 7, 2006 2:31:37 PM
I scouted around and discovered that that IS Jimmy wearing the battle wings! Here's a photo of him with the visor up. I guess the cowboy boots just weren't practical.
http://ruthannzaroff.com/Images/battle_wings-ja.jpg
'thann
Posted by: Ruthann | Jun 7, 2006 2:46:43 PM
You can read another article on this, and see a picture of the back/top.
Here is the German press release from ESG.
The very nice demonstrations have no doubt taken place during realtively stable weather, with nice laminar air masses. Unfortunately, "real world" atmospheres are often irregular, turbulent and have problems like wind shear. Owie for batman.
Posted by: Old Zhou | Jun 7, 2006 3:04:11 PM
Project Icarus?
Posted by: chris-2-4 | Jun 7, 2006 3:06:16 PM
If you're crazy enough to join special forces, you're crazy enough to fly a strap-on glider.
I think a lot of those guys are already trained in using hang gliders and ultralights, though.
Posted by: Maureen | Jun 7, 2006 3:24:48 PM
The first tests, they probably gave them parachutes as well.
Posted by: Mary | Jun 7, 2006 4:20:57 PM
I want one...
Posted by: Neil | Jun 7, 2006 4:35:58 PM
"To infinity and beyond!" - Buzz Lightyear
Posted by: pazdziernik | Jun 7, 2006 4:38:40 PM
"That's not flying, it's falling with style."
- Woody
Posted by: Momof3 | Jun 7, 2006 5:34:06 PM
Hm...so the US-Mexico border fence becomes obsolete even before it's constructed.
Posted by: Francis DS | Jun 7, 2006 9:38:39 PM
It doesn't sound like there are any definite plans by the military to accept and use this new invention, as far as we know that is. Until that time I will remain skeptical. There were a lot of silly hovercrafts and I think jet packs that the military was very serious about in the past, but were complete flops. Until I learn more I am prepared to add this to the list.
Posted by: J.R. Stoodley | Jun 7, 2006 9:52:34 PM
What's a "wuffo"?
That's some one who stands on solid ground, looks up and asks, "Wuffo those guys jump out of a perfectly good airplane?"
Posted by: Dean Whinery | Jun 7, 2006 10:57:17 PM
How much are they and where can I get one? Way too cool.
Posted by: Steve | Jun 8, 2006 5:42:23 AM
They still land with parachutes. This is just an alternative to HALO drops. The SF jump at high altitude - 30 angels in airline lanes, and then have considerably more cross-range capabilities than with a traditional parachute, but not nearly the difficulty and fatigue of the para-wings they use today, then, at low altitude, they open their chutes.
Posted by: Puzzled | Jun 8, 2006 8:12:37 AM
You guys have no idea what you're talking about. We've had an been using the technology since the early 40's at least. Its only now comming out.
See..the aliens at Roswell gave them to us.
Alternatively, all you need is a big kid standing off in the distance to throw the soldier where you want him to go (my GI Joe's never survived a landing though...their chutes didn't open.)
Posted by: DJ | Jun 8, 2006 8:24:51 AM
Dj,
I think you haven't been wearing your tin foil hat lately, have you? :-)
Posted by: David B. | Jun 8, 2006 8:30:27 AM
No, do I need to put it on again?
I'll go find it.
Posted by: DJ | Jun 8, 2006 8:31:14 AM
I want one of those, too!
Um . . . the wing thing & the tin foil hat.
Posted by: Gene Branaman | Jun 8, 2006 9:19:16 AM
Is that the gear Jimmy used when he got a face-to-face with Jack Chick?
Posted by: John | Jun 9, 2006 9:22:34 AM
No sleeping on THAT flight!
Posted by: Mark J. Andrews | Jun 9, 2006 1:16:25 PM
