Object Details
Physical Description
United States Army Air Service (USAAS) Type A backpack parachute; 28' diameter silk canopy with 30 silk braided shroud lines; natural cotton canvas container pack with cotton web shoulder and leg straps.
Summary
The United States Army Air Corps Type A back pack parachute was the first standardized model accepted by the military. It was designed and tested by the Engineering Division of the Air Service at McCook Field, Ohio. Les Irvin made the first jump with this type of parachute on April 28, 1919. Two months later, he founded the Irving Air Chute Company. The "G" was added to the company name because of a typographical error by the recording stenographer and it was never corrected. By 1939, Irving was the largest single manufacture of parachutes in the world.
Credit Line
Transferred from the War Department, Air Corps
Inventory Number
A19310004000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
EQUIPMENT-Parachutes
Materials
Canopy and lines: silk
Pack and straps: cotton
Clips and rings: steel
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Location
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
Hangar
Boeing Aviation Hangar
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19310004000