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Sept 29, 2009: Penetrator
More accurately, Jungle Penetrator, kind of like a selective grappling hook.
| This jungle penetrator is a rescue device that could break through dense foliage when lowered by cable from a helicopter. It folds out into a seat and was used by pararescuemen who often rode them to the ground. Straps are provided to secure riders as they are hoisted, and a flotation collar can be attached for water rescues. It weighs about 20 pounds and was developed by the Kaman Corporation, which also built the HH-43 Huskie rescue helicopter. |
Very clever idea, keeps the guy being lowered from straddling a branch, and from having to hang onto the guy he's rescuing, on the way up.
link
SPUCK Tuesday Sep 29 05:39 AM
Yeah but I bet the ride up thru the trees was hell.
Sheldonrs Tuesday Sep 29 10:01 AM
Ha! You call THAT a penetrator?!!!
birdclaw Tuesday Sep 29 10:06 AM
I hate to say it but, I don't get it. Where is the person supposed to sit and how does it break through the foliage?
glatt Tuesday Sep 29 10:54 AM
The link at the bottom of the original post makes it more clear.
TheMercenary Tuesday Sep 29 12:15 PM
I have ridden on one of those before. It was a wild ride. Not very comfy.
Sheldonrs Tuesday Sep 29 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by TheMercenary
I have ridden on one of those before. It was a wild ride. Not very comfy.
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Shawnee123 Tuesday Sep 29 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by glatt
The link at the bottom of the original post makes it more clear.
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How does the thing bore through trees with someone sitting on it and the end of the device doesn't extend far enough to even clear the dude's ass?
glatt Tuesday Sep 29 01:22 PM
I think the hard part of getting a line down to the ground is the dropping it part. A rope will just get caught in branches, even small branches. The helicopter can't push a rope down. Picture it. How do you push a rope? So this is heavy and pointy. It will go down through the branches. Going back up, the helicopter is pulling it in with force, so the branches will bend out of the way. The small ones anyway, and the larger branches can be dodged by the person riding the thing. You just push against them as you go up.
As for comfort, it looks like hell, but I'd be happy to ride it if it meant my life would be saved.
Shawnee123 Tuesday Sep 29 01:27 PM
I see what you're saying.
Just from the looks of it, I thought maybe it was supposed to bore through somehow.
All I could picture was a "Sit-n-Spin."
Gravdigr Tuesday Sep 29 10:42 PM
HH-43 Huskie. One ugly SOB. But, I'd bet it was one pretty bird if it was hovering over you lowering that jungle penetrator
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