The T-10 Parachute is a series of

static line A static line is a fixed cord attached to a large, stable object. It is used to open parachutes automatically for paratroopers and novice parachutists. Design and use A static line is a cord attached at one end to the aircraft and at the oth ...

-deployed

parachute A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag or, in a ram-air parachute, aerodynamic lift. A major application is to support people, for recreation or as a safety device for aviators, who ...

s used by the

United States armed forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is the ...

for combat mass-assault

airborne operations Airborne or Airborn may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis * ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film * ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...

and training. The T-10 parachute was introduced in the early 1950s. In 1976, the B model introduced the anti-inversion net; in 1986, the C model was introduced, which changed the pocket band free length from 4" to 7½". The T-10D, adopted in 2000, includes the detachable pack tray, which in itself includes the 15' universal static line and 5' extension static line. The T-10D is currently being replaced by the T-11 parachute system. In 2006, all T-10C parachutes were revised by adding one static line stow bar to each side of the pack tray; the material for the T-10C was also changed to the muddy water 407.

Design

Depending upon

air density The density of air or atmospheric density, denoted '' ρ'', is the mass per unit volume of Earth's atmosphere. Air density, like air pressure, decreases with increasing altitude. It also changes with variation in atmospheric pressure, temperature a ...

and the jumper’s total weight, the parachute’s average rate of descent is from ; total suspended weight limitation is . The parachute is deployed using either a static line, allowing the parachutist to be delivered by either

C-130 The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally desig ...

or C-17 aircraft. The T-10D main parachute is a parabolic-shape and has a nominal diameter of with 30 suspension lines. The entire assembly weighs . Paratroopers can be dropped from an aircraft at a maximum speed of , at a minimum height of . Maximum jump wind speed is . The T-10D Parachute assembly consists of five components: pack tray, troop harness, deployment bag, risers, and

canopy Canopy may refer to: Plants * Canopy (biology), aboveground portion of plant community or crop (including forests) * Canopy (grape), aboveground portion of grapes Religion and ceremonies * Baldachin or canopy of state, typically placed over an a ...

. The parachute has a combined service life of 16.5 years; service life is 12 years and shelf life is 4.5 years. The T-10D Parachute must be repacked every 120 days. The T-10D Parachute is made of

nylon Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers composed of polyamides ( repeating units linked by amide links).The polyamides may be aliphatic or semi-aromatic. Nylon is a silk-like thermoplastic, generally made from petro ...

materials commonly used in the manufacturing of parachutes. The Modified Improved Reserve Parachute System (MIRPS) includes a standard T-10 reserve parachute canopy assembly, integrated with a commercial deployment assistance device composed of a bridle line, pilot parachute, and spring. The pack tray includes a line bag for stowing suspension lines and an inner staging flap that holds the reserve parachute until sufficient tension is achieved through the bridle/pilot parachute assembly during deployment. The MIRPS pack tray is slightly larger than that of the T-10 reserve pack tray so it can accommodate a larger

pilot chute A pilot chute is a small auxiliary parachute used to deploy the main or reserve parachute. The pilot chute is connected by a bridle to the deployment bag containing the parachute. Pilot chutes are a critical component of all modern skydiving and B ...

, spring, and bridle. The pack tray has a yellow stripe along the rip cord protector flap and is made of nylon textile materials commonly used to make parachute systems. There are derivates using this general design, like the MC1-1B parachute. The basic canopy is the same as the T-10B assembly, except that there are orifices or cut-out areas in 11 of the 30 gores, creating a gliding type descent. The canopy has two control lines, each extending from an outboard orifice to toggles which may be manipulated in such a way as to make 360° turns. It has a 3 3/4inch mesh anti-inversion net attached to the skirt of the canopy that extends 18- inches below the canopy shirt.

References

{{US Army, url=https://peosoldier.army.mil/newpeo/Equipment/Temp.asp?id=CIE_T10DP Military parachutes Military equipment of the United States