Parachute Packing

Staff Sgt. John J. Williams and Airman 1st Class Matthew Stelling, air crew flight equipment craftsman and apprentice with the 5th Operations Support Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, work on packing the drag parachute for a B-52H Stratofortress. The 90-foot parachute weighs approximately 200 pounds when fully packed and deploys as an aircraft lands, helping to slow down the aircraft on the runway. (U.S Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Lauren Pitts)

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Parachute Packing

Airmen who work in the 5th Operations Support Squadron here have the incredibly detail-oriented task of piecing together parachutes that are used in air craft missions at Minot Air Force Base. These individual parachutes are packed into backpacks and issued to crew members. In case of emergency, the parachutes will automatically deploy at a certain altitude, or even when salt water is detected. (U.S Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Lauren Pitts)

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Parachute Packing

Senior Airman Ian Carrion, an air crew flight equipment journeyman with the 5th Operations Support Squadron here, carefully threads the lines of a parachute through an individual sized backpack. This parachute is assigned to a crew member of a B-52 Stratofortress and is used in case of emergency, requiring maximum attention to detail by the Airman. (U.S Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Lauren Pitts)

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Parachute Packing

Airman 1st Class Matthew Stelling, an air crew flight equipment apprentice with the 5th Operations Support Squadron here, packs the drag parachute for a B-52H Stratofortress into its designated container. The 90-foot parachute, weighing approximately 200 pounds, requires much force to be compressed such that Airmen use a stand, allowing them to use their entire body weight to pack the chute. (U.S Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Lauren Pitts)

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Parachute packing

Published Nov. 14, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Lauren Pitts
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Airmen who work in the 5th Operations Support Squadron's Aircrew Flight Equipment section here have the incredibly detail-oriented task of piecing together parachutes that are used in air craft missions at Minot Air Force Base. These individual parachutes are packed into backpacks and issued to crew members. In case of emergency, the parachutes will automatically deploy at a certain altitude, or even when salt water is detected. In addition to the smaller chutes, the Airmen who work with air crew flight equipment are also responsible for the 90 foot long, 200 pound parachute that deploys when a B-52 Stratofortress lands; creating drag and assisting in the landing.

Parachute Packing

Parachute Packing

Parachute Packing

Parachute Packing