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Reasons?
editI'd like to see someone explain more explicitly why this is done. My guess would be that it's done as a safety measure, to avoid undeployed parachutes and the problems they cause, but I've got no idea, and would like to see someone with knowledge in the subject set the record straight.--81.233.90.182 18:26, 5 May 2006 (UTC)
- I think you're right overall regarding safety. The article already mentions that this is typically done for training and low altitude jumps (and BASE jumping, which are low altitude jumps in most cases). In low altitude jumps it's crucial to have the parachute deployed as quickly as possible. It's probably also useful for paratrooper deployment, because it's important for them to land as close together as possible. Python 04:00, 6 February 2007 (UTC)
- Actually, it's done by military jumpers as we'd typically drop from 800 feet above ground in training (400 feet in wartime). At that altitude, there simply isn't enough time for a freefalling parachutist to pull a ripcord and deploy a "traditional" parachute. Further, a static line causes all jumpers' parachutes to deploy at approximately the same time after exiting the aircraft, lowering the chance of a mid-air entanglement.
- For the record, I was a static-line parachutist in the Army, 11 drops. Kob zilla 20:32, 6 February 2007 (UTC)