1
00:00:03,904 --> 00:00:08,041
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: PARACHUTES GIVE
THE ULTIMATE ADRENALINE RUSH.
2
00:00:08,075 --> 00:00:09,443
{\an7}Man: YOU FEEL LIKE A BIRD.
3
00:00:09,476 --> 00:00:10,844
{\an7}WE KNOW WHY BIRDS SING.
4
00:00:10,878 --> 00:00:13,447
{\an7}IT’S BECAUSE THEY’RE HAVING
\h\h\hSO MUCH FUN UP THERE.
5
00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,649
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
BUT BESIDE THE THRILLS,
6
00:00:15,682 --> 00:00:19,186
{\an7}THOUSANDS OWE THEIR LIVES
\h\h\h\hTO THE PARACHUTE.
7
00:00:19,219 --> 00:00:21,688
{\an7}Man: HE CUT MY TAIL OFF,
8
00:00:21,722 --> 00:00:25,593
{\an7}AND I WAS HEADED STRAIGHT DOWN
\h\h\h\h\hAT 600 MILES AN HOUR.
9
00:00:25,626 --> 00:00:27,495
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
PERFECTING THE PARACHUTE
10
00:00:27,528 --> 00:00:30,231
{\an7}HAS BEEN A RISKY ENDEAVOR
\h\h\h\hFOR THE PIONEERS.
11
00:00:30,264 --> 00:00:32,133
{\an7}Man: I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS
\h\h\h\h\h\hSIX OR SEVEN TIMES
12
00:00:32,165 --> 00:00:33,800
{\an7}BY OPENING SHOCKS.
13
00:00:33,834 --> 00:00:36,870
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
PARACHUTES HAVE CONQUERED EARTH.
14
00:00:36,904 --> 00:00:40,141
{\an7}\h\h\hTHE NEXT CHALLENGE
IS PARACHUTING ASTRONAUTS
15
00:00:40,173 --> 00:00:43,076
{\an7}TO ALIEN PLANETS.
16
00:00:43,110 --> 00:00:46,547
{\an7}Man: WE ARE STANDING BY
\hFOR PARACHUTE DEPLOY.
17
00:00:46,580 --> 00:00:49,917
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THIS IS
THE UNTOLD STORY OF PARACHUTES,
18
00:00:49,950 --> 00:00:51,552
{\an7}FROM THE PEOPLE WHO DESIGN THEM,
19
00:00:51,585 --> 00:00:52,619
{\an7}TEST THEM,
20
00:00:52,653 --> 00:00:54,688
{\an7}AND WHO OWE THEIR LIVES TO THEM.
21
00:01:02,195 --> 00:01:03,730
{\an7}THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
22
00:01:03,764 --> 00:01:06,867
{\an7}JANUARY 2015.
23
00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:10,003
{\an7}\hLUE MORTON IS PILOTING
A BRAND-NEW PRIVATE PLANE
24
00:01:10,037 --> 00:01:14,008
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h2,000 MILES
FROM CALIFORNIA TO HAWAII.
25
00:01:14,041 --> 00:01:18,746
{\an7}\h\hTO FLY THIS FAR,
HE NEEDS EXTRA FUEL.
26
00:01:18,779 --> 00:01:20,047
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLue Morton:
THE AIRCRAFT’S NORMAL RANGE
27
00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,215
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS ABOUT
A THOUSAND NAUTICAL MILES.
28
00:01:22,249 --> 00:01:26,086
{\an7}AND SO THE TWO EXTRA FUEL TANKS
\h\h\h\h\hADD THE EXTRA RANGE.
29
00:01:26,119 --> 00:01:28,288
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
BUT JUST OVER HALFWAY THERE,
30
00:01:28,322 --> 00:01:32,793
{\an7}\hMORTON NOTICES THAT ONE OF
THE RESERVE TANKS IS BLOCKED.
31
00:01:32,826 --> 00:01:37,931
{\an7}HE’LL RUN OUT OF FUEL
150 MILES FROM LAND.
32
00:01:37,965 --> 00:01:39,066
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMorton:
IT SETTLED IN PRETTY QUICKLY.
33
00:01:39,099 --> 00:01:40,300
{\an7}I’VE JUST GOT TO FOCUS
34
00:01:40,334 --> 00:01:44,738
{\an7}\h\h\hON PREPARING FOR
DITCHING THE AIRCRAFT.
35
00:01:44,771 --> 00:01:46,273
{\an7}MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.
36
00:01:46,306 --> 00:01:49,709
{\an7}NOVEMBER 7 YANKEE TANGO.
37
00:01:49,743 --> 00:01:52,179
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: A PASSING
JETLINER CAPTAIN TRIES TO HELP.
38
00:01:59,419 --> 00:02:00,854
{\an7}AND THE U.S. COAST GUARD
39
00:02:00,887 --> 00:02:05,058
{\an7}GUIDES HIM TO THE ONLY SHIP
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITHIN RANGE.
40
00:02:05,092 --> 00:02:07,561
{\an7}\h\hMORTON IS GOING
TO TRY AND FIND IT
41
00:02:07,594 --> 00:02:10,564
{\an7}BEFORE HIS FUEL RUNS OUT.
42
00:02:10,597 --> 00:02:11,965
{\an7}Morton: SO I CALCULATED OUT,
43
00:02:11,999 --> 00:02:13,801
{\an7}\h\h\hOK, HERE’S THE COORDINATES,
HERE’S THE DIRECTION IT’S GOING,
44
00:02:13,834 --> 00:02:15,302
{\an7}HERE’S HOW FAST IT’S GOING.
45
00:02:15,335 --> 00:02:18,805
{\an7}I HOPE I CAN FIND THIS BOAT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN.
46
00:02:18,839 --> 00:02:20,274
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
MORTON REACHES THE SHIP
47
00:02:20,307 --> 00:02:22,242
{\an7}JUST AS HIS TANK RUNS DRY.
48
00:02:22,275 --> 00:02:25,178
{\an7}[BEEPING]
49
00:02:25,212 --> 00:02:30,084
{\an7}\h\h\h\hA COAST GUARD PLANE
FILMS THE UNFOLDING DRAMA.
50
00:02:30,117 --> 00:02:32,419
{\an7}\h\h\hBUT HE’S NOT PLANNING
ON DITCHING IN THE OCEAN...
51
00:02:36,523 --> 00:02:40,794
{\an7}\hBECAUSE HIS ENTIRE PLANE
HAS AN EMERGENCY PARACHUTE.
52
00:02:44,531 --> 00:02:45,799
{\an7}Morton: IT JUST FEELS LIKE
53
00:02:45,832 --> 00:02:47,934
{\an7}\h\h\hSOMEBODY GRABBED
THE TAIL OF YOUR PLANE
54
00:02:47,968 --> 00:02:49,803
{\an7}AND JUST YANKED YOU BACK.
55
00:02:52,139 --> 00:02:53,374
{\an7}Narrator: AMAZINGLY,
56
00:02:53,407 --> 00:02:57,311
{\an7}MORTON GRABS HIS CAMERA
\h\h\hAND HITS RECORD.
57
00:02:57,344 --> 00:02:58,979
{\an7}Morton: YOU JUST SEE
THIS WIDE-OPEN CANOPY
58
00:02:59,012 --> 00:03:01,281
{\an7}OF A PARACHUTE ABOVE YOU.
59
00:03:01,314 --> 00:03:02,715
{\an7}Narrator: INCREDIBLY,
60
00:03:02,749 --> 00:03:06,753
{\an7}A PARACHUTE IS GOING TO LOWER
\hTHE ENTIRE 1.5-TON AIRPLANE
61
00:03:06,787 --> 00:03:08,756
{\an7}ONTO THE WATER.
62
00:03:08,789 --> 00:03:11,558
{\an7}WITHOUT IT, HE WOULD HAVE
\hHAD TO TAKE HIS CHANCES
63
00:03:11,591 --> 00:03:15,228
{\an7}WITH A CRASH LANDING
\h\h\hIN HEAVY SEAS.
64
00:03:15,262 --> 00:03:16,430
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMorton:
YOU LOOK DOWN AT THE OCEAN,
65
00:03:16,463 --> 00:03:18,465
{\an7}AND IT WAS PRETTY AGGRESSIVE.
66
00:03:18,498 --> 00:03:19,733
{\an7}I MEAN, THOSE SWELLS,
67
00:03:19,766 --> 00:03:25,071
{\an7}I MEAN, IT’S LIKE A THREE-STORY
\h\h\h\hBUILDING COMING AT YOU.
68
00:03:25,105 --> 00:03:26,907
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
THE PARACHUTE ALLOWS MORTON
69
00:03:26,940 --> 00:03:31,311
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTO PREPARE
FOR AN EMERGENCY EXIT.
70
00:03:31,344 --> 00:03:34,147
{\an7}Morton: I’M ALREADY ABLE
\h\hTO HAVE MY DOOR OPEN
71
00:03:34,181 --> 00:03:36,583
{\an7}AND READY TO GET OUT
\h\hOF THE AIRCRAFT.
72
00:03:42,055 --> 00:03:43,957
{\an7}Narrator: HE GETS OUT...
73
00:03:43,990 --> 00:03:46,493
{\an7}JUST IN TIME.
74
00:03:46,526 --> 00:03:48,728
{\an7}\h\h\h\hMorton: PRETTY SHORTLY
AFTER THE IMPACT ON THE WATER,
75
00:03:48,762 --> 00:03:50,831
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE RIGHT WING
GOT GRABBED BY A SWELL
76
00:03:50,864 --> 00:03:56,269
{\an7}AND COMPLETELY FLIPPED
\h\hTHE AIRCRAFT OVER.
77
00:03:56,303 --> 00:03:59,506
{\an7}Narrator: THE PLANE PARACHUTE
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAS SAVED HIM.
78
00:04:03,176 --> 00:04:04,778
{\an7}Morton: I WAS KIND OF
\hJUST THINKING ABOUT
79
00:04:04,811 --> 00:04:06,179
{\an7}HOW LUCKY I WAS
80
00:04:06,213 --> 00:04:10,084
{\an7}\h\h\hTO HAVE THIS AIRCRAFT
WITH THIS PARACHUTE SYSTEM.
81
00:04:10,117 --> 00:04:11,619
{\an7}Narrator: MODERN PARACHUTES
82
00:04:11,651 --> 00:04:15,522
{\an7}ARE HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED
\h\hPIECES OF TECHNOLOGY.
83
00:04:15,555 --> 00:04:16,723
{\an7}THEY ARE A RESULT
84
00:04:16,757 --> 00:04:20,027
{\an7}\h\h\h\hOF OVER 500 YEARS
OF PARACHUTE DEVELOPMENT.
85
00:04:23,997 --> 00:04:27,133
{\an7}IT ALL STARTS IN 1485,
86
00:04:27,167 --> 00:04:30,003
{\an7}WHEN LEONARDO DA VINCI
\h\h\hDESIGNS A DEVICE
87
00:04:30,036 --> 00:04:33,373
{\an7}TO SAVE PEOPLE PLUNGING
\hFROM A TALL BUILDING.
88
00:04:33,406 --> 00:04:37,877
{\an7}IT’S THE FIRST WORKABLE
\h\h\hPARACHUTE DESIGN.
89
00:04:37,911 --> 00:04:39,246
{\an7}DA VINCI HAS FIGURED OUT
90
00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:45,619
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT AIR RESISTANCE
WILL SLOW THE RATE OF DESCENT.
91
00:04:45,652 --> 00:04:51,591
{\an7}BUT DA VINCI’S AERIAL LIFE-SAVER
REMAINS A SKETCH UNTIL 1783,
92
00:04:51,625 --> 00:04:53,627
{\an7}\h\h\hWHEN INVENTOR
SEBASTIEN LENORMAND
93
00:04:53,660 --> 00:04:55,595
{\an7}LEAPS INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS
94
00:04:55,629 --> 00:04:58,565
{\an7}WITH THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL
\h\h\h\h\hPARACHUTE JUMP
95
00:04:58,598 --> 00:05:01,534
{\an7}FROM AN OBSERVATORY IN FRANCE.
96
00:05:01,568 --> 00:05:04,805
{\an7}EVENTUALLY PARACHUTES BECOME
\h\h\hFAIRGROUND ATTRACTIONS,
97
00:05:04,838 --> 00:05:07,074
{\an7}WITH CROWDS GATHERING
\hTO WATCH DAREDEVILS
98
00:05:07,107 --> 00:05:09,343
{\an7}DROP FROM GREAT HEIGHTS.
99
00:05:09,376 --> 00:05:10,978
{\an7}THESE SHOWS ARE POPULAR
100
00:05:11,011 --> 00:05:14,982
{\an7}THROUGHOUT THE 19th CENTURY
\h\h\h\hAND INTO THE 20th.
101
00:05:15,015 --> 00:05:16,416
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPat Works:
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD
102
00:05:16,449 --> 00:05:18,017
{\an7}SET UP, PUT OUT WAYBILLS
103
00:05:18,051 --> 00:05:19,819
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT SAID,
"HEY, COME WATCH THIS GUY DIE,
104
00:05:19,853 --> 00:05:20,754
{\an7}DEATH-DEFYING...
105
00:05:20,787 --> 00:05:22,355
{\an7}YADA YADA YADA,
106
00:05:22,389 --> 00:05:25,325
{\an7}WHOOP WHOOP."
107
00:05:25,358 --> 00:05:26,860
{\an7}Announcer: 3,000 FEET TO GO.
108
00:05:26,893 --> 00:05:28,228
{\an7}A LONG DROP.
109
00:05:28,261 --> 00:05:29,863
{\an7}LET’S HOPE HE MAKES
\hA HAPPY LANDING.
110
00:05:31,832 --> 00:05:35,035
{\an7}Narrator: BUT FOR PARACHUTES
\h\h\h\hTO REALLY COME OF AGE
111
00:05:35,068 --> 00:05:38,471
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTAKES CONFLICT
TO BREAK OUT IN EUROPE.
112
00:05:38,505 --> 00:05:41,108
{\an7}WORLD WAR I.
113
00:05:41,141 --> 00:05:45,712
{\an7}\h\hAERIAL WARFARE ADDS A NEW
DIMENSION TO THE BATTLEFIELD.
114
00:05:45,745 --> 00:05:49,749
{\an7}SUPREMACY OF THE SKIES
IS KEY FOR BOTH SIDES,
115
00:05:49,783 --> 00:05:54,321
{\an7}AND HIGHLY TRAINED PILOTS
\hARE A SCARCE RESOURCE.
116
00:05:54,354 --> 00:05:58,158
{\an7}\hYET THEY’RE DYING
IN THEIR THOUSANDS.
117
00:05:58,191 --> 00:06:01,194
{\an7}\h\h\h\hWorks: LIFE EXPECTANCY
OF A PILOT WAS 60 FLIGHT HOURS.
118
00:06:01,228 --> 00:06:03,997
{\an7}ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
119
00:06:04,030 --> 00:06:05,932
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
BY SAVING PILOTS’ LIVES,
120
00:06:05,966 --> 00:06:09,336
{\an7}\hCOMMANDERS COULD GAIN
AN EDGE OVER THE ENEMY.
121
00:06:09,369 --> 00:06:10,737
{\an7}AS THE WAR GOES ON,
122
00:06:10,770 --> 00:06:14,407
{\an7}IT BECOMES INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS
\h\hTHAT PILOTS NEED PARACHUTES
123
00:06:14,441 --> 00:06:17,945
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTO SAVE THEM
FROM STRICKEN AIRCRAFT.
124
00:06:17,978 --> 00:06:19,279
{\an7}BUT THERE’S A PROBLEM.
125
00:06:19,312 --> 00:06:20,613
{\an7}NO ONE HAS YET SOLVED
126
00:06:20,647 --> 00:06:23,550
{\an7}HOW TO SAFELY ESCAPE
FROM A DOOMED PLANE.
127
00:06:28,421 --> 00:06:31,457
{\an7}OCTOBER 1918.
128
00:06:31,491 --> 00:06:34,260
{\an7}THE YEAR AFTER AMERICA
\h\h\h\hJOINS THE WAR,
129
00:06:34,294 --> 00:06:36,563
{\an7}\hTHE U.S. AIR SERVICE
ASSEMBLES A CRACK TEAM
130
00:06:36,596 --> 00:06:40,934
{\an7}TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE.
131
00:06:40,967 --> 00:06:43,069
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAndrew Kididis:
THIS EFFORT WAS PROBABLY
132
00:06:43,103 --> 00:06:45,005
{\an7}THE FIRST REAL TECHNICAL LOOK
133
00:06:45,038 --> 00:06:48,475
{\an7}\hAT DEVELOPING A PARACHUTE
FOR A SPECIFIC APPLICATION:
134
00:06:48,508 --> 00:06:51,111
{\an7}TO SAFELY BAIL OUT
\h\hOF AN AIRPLANE.
135
00:06:51,144 --> 00:06:53,913
{\an7}Narrator: THEY’RE LED
BY JAMES FLOYD SMITH,
136
00:06:53,947 --> 00:06:57,717
{\an7}\h\h\hAN ENGINEER WITH
AN UNCONVENTIONAL PAST.
137
00:06:57,751 --> 00:07:00,954
{\an7}\h\hKididis: JAMES FLOYD SMITH
HAD AN INTERESTING BACKGROUND.
138
00:07:00,987 --> 00:07:04,390
{\an7}HE HAD BEEN A CIRCUS PERFORMER,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAN AERIALIST.
139
00:07:04,424 --> 00:07:06,293
{\an7}HE HAD ALSO BUILT
HIS OWN AIRPLANE
140
00:07:06,326 --> 00:07:08,495
{\an7}AND TAUGHT HIMSELF TO FLY.
141
00:07:08,528 --> 00:07:10,463
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
SMITH ANALYZES PARACHUTES
142
00:07:10,497 --> 00:07:14,534
{\an7}THAT HAVE BEEN SAVING LIVES
\h\hIN THE WAR SINCE 1916.
143
00:07:14,567 --> 00:07:16,335
{\an7}TETHERED ABOVE THE FRONT LINE,
144
00:07:16,369 --> 00:07:19,839
{\an7}\h\h\h\hBALLOON OBSERVERS
CAN SPOT ENEMY POSITIONS,
145
00:07:19,873 --> 00:07:22,242
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEY’RE
VULNERABLE TO ATTACK,
146
00:07:22,275 --> 00:07:26,479
{\an7}\h\hSO THE OBSERVERS
ARE GIVEN PARACHUTES.
147
00:07:26,513 --> 00:07:28,548
{\an7}Kididis: THE BALLOON PILOT
\h\h\h\h\h\hCOULD BAIL OUT,
148
00:07:28,581 --> 00:07:31,751
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hJUMP OUT OVER
THE SIDE OF THE BASKET.
149
00:07:31,785 --> 00:07:33,086
{\an7}Narrator: THE OBSERVER’S HARNESS
150
00:07:33,119 --> 00:07:36,389
{\an7}IS ATTACHED TO A PARACHUTE
\hHANGING FROM THE BALLOON,
151
00:07:36,423 --> 00:07:37,858
{\an7}SO AS THEY FALL,
152
00:07:37,891 --> 00:07:41,328
{\an7}THE CHUTE OPENS AUTOMATICALLY.
153
00:07:41,361 --> 00:07:43,029
{\an7}THE DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM
154
00:07:43,063 --> 00:07:45,332
{\an7}IS CALLED A STATIC LINE.
155
00:07:45,365 --> 00:07:48,535
{\an7}AND IT’S VERY EFFECTIVE.
156
00:07:48,568 --> 00:07:51,838
{\an7}SO MUCH SO, THAT IN MARCH 1918,
157
00:07:51,871 --> 00:07:54,407
{\an7}GERMANY STARTS GIVING
\hSIMILAR PARACHUTES
158
00:07:54,441 --> 00:07:58,412
{\an7}TO THEIR FIGHTER PILOTS.
159
00:07:58,445 --> 00:08:00,080
{\an7}Bill Booth: THE AMERICANS
\h\h\h\hSTARTED NOTICING
160
00:08:00,113 --> 00:08:01,314
{\an7}THAT THEY WERE FIGHTING
\h\h\h\hTHE SAME GERMAN
161
00:08:01,348 --> 00:08:02,816
{\an7}THEY’D SHOT DOWN THE DAY BEFORE
162
00:08:02,849 --> 00:08:04,651
{\an7}THE NEXT DAY.
163
00:08:04,684 --> 00:08:06,219
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
LIKE THE BALLOON OBSERVERS,
164
00:08:06,252 --> 00:08:09,355
{\an7}\h\h\hTHE PILOTS’ PARACHUTES
ARE ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT
165
00:08:09,389 --> 00:08:12,993
{\an7}AND OPEN AUTOMATICALLY
\h\hAS THE PILOT JUMPS.
166
00:08:13,026 --> 00:08:14,361
{\an7}[GUNFIRE]
167
00:08:14,394 --> 00:08:18,331
{\an7}Works: WHEN THEY GOT LIT UP
\h\h\hBY THE ALLIED FORCES,
168
00:08:18,365 --> 00:08:22,870
{\an7}THEY COULD HOP OVER THE SIDE
INSTEAD OF GETTING BARBECUED.
169
00:08:22,902 --> 00:08:25,838
{\an7}Narrator: BUT ALTHOUGH THE CHUTE
WORKS FOR SOME PILOTS,
170
00:08:25,872 --> 00:08:28,408
{\an7}MANY PERISH...
171
00:08:28,441 --> 00:08:29,842
{\an7}AS THERE’S A DEADLY GLITCH
172
00:08:29,876 --> 00:08:34,981
{\an7}IN THE STATIC-LINE
DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM.
173
00:08:35,015 --> 00:08:38,118
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHEY WORK WELL
FROM A STABLE BALLOON,
174
00:08:38,151 --> 00:08:40,086
{\an7}\h\h\h\hBUT WHEN A PILOT
HAS TO JUMP FROM A PLANE
175
00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,055
{\an7}THAT’S OUT OF CONTROL,
176
00:08:42,088 --> 00:08:44,223
{\an7}THEIR CHUTE CAN GET TRAPPED.
177
00:08:50,263 --> 00:08:51,564
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBooth:
IF THE AIRPLANE’S SPINNING
178
00:08:51,598 --> 00:08:53,500
{\an7}AND YOU’RE TIED TO IT
\h\h\h\hAND JUMP OUT,
179
00:08:53,533 --> 00:08:55,635
{\an7}YEAH, THE PARACHUTE’S GOING TO
\h\hENTANGLE WITH THE AIRPLANE,
180
00:08:55,668 --> 00:08:58,571
{\an7}YOU’RE STILL GOING TO DIE.
181
00:08:58,605 --> 00:09:01,441
{\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: FOR EVERY
TWO GERMAN PILOTS SAVED,
182
00:09:01,474 --> 00:09:03,509
{\an7}ONE IS LOST.
183
00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:09,015
{\an7}FOR THE ALLIES,
184
00:09:09,049 --> 00:09:12,419
{\an7}\h\h\hTHE PARACHUTE TEAM KNOW
THAT SUCH A HIGH FAILURE RATE
185
00:09:12,452 --> 00:09:17,023
{\an7}IS NOT AN OPTION.
186
00:09:17,057 --> 00:09:20,727
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBUT JAMES FLOYD SMITH’S
EXPERIENCE AS A CIRCUS PERFORMER
187
00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:22,629
{\an7}HAS GIVEN HIM A RADICAL IDEA.
188
00:09:26,966 --> 00:09:28,201
{\an7}[SPLASH]
189
00:09:29,803 --> 00:09:33,340
{\an7}\h\h\hHE MEETS UP WITH
AN UNLIKELY CHARACTER:
190
00:09:33,373 --> 00:09:37,110
{\an7}HOLLYWOOD STUNTMAN LESLIE IRVIN,
191
00:09:37,143 --> 00:09:43,616
{\an7}\h\h\h\hWHO HAS THE EXPERIENCE
SMITH NEEDS TO PROVE HIS POINT.
192
00:09:43,650 --> 00:09:46,653
{\an7}Kididis: LESLIE IRVIN HAD BEEN
\h\h\hA WELL-KNOWN STUNT-JUMPER
193
00:09:46,686 --> 00:09:50,456
{\an7}INVOLVED IN HOLLYWOOD MOVIES.
194
00:09:50,490 --> 00:09:54,127
{\an7}HE WAS KNOWN AS SKY-HIGH IRVIN.
195
00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:55,728
{\an7}Narrator: SMITH THINKS
\h\h\hHE’S FOUND A WAY
196
00:09:55,762 --> 00:09:57,264
{\an7}TO AVOID PARACHUTES
197
00:09:57,297 --> 00:10:00,300
{\an7}\h\hGETTING TANGLED UP
WITH A SPINNING PLANE:
198
00:10:00,333 --> 00:10:02,502
{\an7}BY JUMPING FREE OF THE AIRCRAFT
199
00:10:02,535 --> 00:10:06,372
{\an7}\h\h\hBEFORE RELEASING
THE PARACHUTE BY HAND.
200
00:10:06,406 --> 00:10:09,009
{\an7}HE PERSUADES IRVIN TO HELP.
201
00:10:09,042 --> 00:10:10,744
{\an7}SMITH’S RADICAL IDEA
202
00:10:10,777 --> 00:10:16,049
{\an7}REQUIRES BEING IN FREE-FALL
\h\h\h\hFOR A FEW SECONDS.
203
00:10:16,082 --> 00:10:21,254
{\an7}BUT AT THE TIME, MOST PEOPLE ARE
SCARED THAT FREE-FALL IS DEADLY.
204
00:10:21,287 --> 00:10:22,722
{\an7}Booth: SCIENTISTS TOLD PEOPLE
205
00:10:22,755 --> 00:10:24,223
{\an7}THAT IF YOU FELL OUT
\h\h\hOF AN AIRPLANE,
206
00:10:24,257 --> 00:10:25,959
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU WOULD DIE
OR AT LEAST LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS
207
00:10:25,992 --> 00:10:27,861
{\an7}AND YOU COULDN’T BREATHE.
208
00:10:27,894 --> 00:10:31,264
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
IRVIN AND SMITH DISAGREE.
209
00:10:31,297 --> 00:10:34,567
{\an7}THEY KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE
\hTHAT FREE-FALL IS SAFE.
210
00:10:34,601 --> 00:10:38,772
{\an7}Kididis: LESLIE IRVIN HAD BEEN
AROUND ENOUGH HOLLYWOOD STUNTS
211
00:10:38,805 --> 00:10:42,542
{\an7}THAT HE SAW PLENTY OF PEOPLE
\h\hFALLING THROUGH THE AIR,
212
00:10:42,575 --> 00:10:44,577
{\an7}AS WELL AS HIS OWN EXPERIENCES,
213
00:10:44,611 --> 00:10:47,147
{\an7}TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE
\hWERE NOT INCAPACITATED
214
00:10:47,180 --> 00:10:49,082
{\an7}WHEN THEY FELL THROUGH THE AIR.
215
00:10:49,115 --> 00:10:52,452
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: SO SMITH DESIGNS
A MANUALLY OPERATED PARACHUTE.
216
00:10:56,055 --> 00:10:58,858
{\an7}\hAFTER GETTING AWAY
FROM A DAMAGED PLANE,
217
00:10:58,892 --> 00:11:02,028
{\an7}THE AIRMAN PULLS A RIPCORD.
218
00:11:02,061 --> 00:11:05,398
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHAT LAUNCHES A SMALL
PILOT PARACHUTE OUT THE BACK,
219
00:11:05,431 --> 00:11:06,866
{\an7}WHICH CATCHES THE AIR
220
00:11:06,900 --> 00:11:09,970
{\an7}AND PULLS OUT THE MAIN CHUTE.
221
00:11:10,003 --> 00:11:13,707
{\an7}IT’S A REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN.
222
00:11:13,740 --> 00:11:15,842
{\an7}[CHEERING]
223
00:11:15,875 --> 00:11:19,545
{\an7}BY THE TIME IT’S READY,
\h\h\hTHE WAR IS OVER.
224
00:11:19,579 --> 00:11:23,383
{\an7}BUT PILOTS WILL STILL BE CRUCIAL
IN ANY FUTURE WAR,
225
00:11:23,416 --> 00:11:25,051
{\an7}SO THEY CARRY ON,
226
00:11:25,084 --> 00:11:30,823
{\an7}\hAS DETERMINED AS EVER TO TEST
THEIR NEW PARACHUTE FOR PLANES.
227
00:11:30,857 --> 00:11:34,227
{\an7}\h\h\h\hSTUNTMAN IRVIN AGREES
TO PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE.
228
00:11:38,097 --> 00:11:42,668
{\an7}ON APRIL 28, 1919,
229
00:11:42,702 --> 00:11:47,874
{\an7}\h\hJAMES FLOYD SMITH FLIES
LESLIE IRVIN TO 1,500 FEET.
230
00:11:56,950 --> 00:12:00,487
{\an7}IRVIN TAKES A DEEP BREATH...
231
00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:02,355
{\an7}AND JUMPS.
232
00:12:15,868 --> 00:12:18,371
{\an7}Kididis: AND THE PARACHUTE
\h\hOPENED JUST AS PLANNED.
233
00:12:28,481 --> 00:12:31,651
{\an7}\h\h\h\hEVERYTHING WENT FINE
UNTIL LESLIE HIT THE GROUND,
234
00:12:31,684 --> 00:12:34,520
{\an7}AND HE HAD A BAD LANDING
\hAND HE BROKE HIS ANKLE.
235
00:12:34,554 --> 00:12:36,923
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
DESPITE THE BROKEN ANKLE,
236
00:12:36,956 --> 00:12:38,858
{\an7}IRVIN, SMITH, AND THE TEAM
237
00:12:38,891 --> 00:12:41,827
{\an7}HAVE PROVED THAT BEING
\hIN FREE-FALL IS SAFE,
238
00:12:41,861 --> 00:12:44,464
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT UNLIKE
A STATIC-LINE PARACHUTE,
239
00:12:44,497 --> 00:12:46,599
{\an7}\hTHEIR NEW DESIGN
WOULD ALLOW PILOTS
240
00:12:46,633 --> 00:12:48,568
{\an7}\h\h\hTO JUMP CLEAR
OF A DAMAGED PLANE.
241
00:12:53,273 --> 00:12:56,009
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY CALL IT
THE "MODEL A" PARACHUTE,
242
00:12:56,042 --> 00:12:59,913
{\an7}AND IT’S INSTANTLY IN DEMAND.
243
00:12:59,946 --> 00:13:02,482
{\an7}Works: RIGHT AFTER IRVIN
\h\hGOT HIS ORDER FOR 250
244
00:13:02,515 --> 00:13:03,850
{\an7}FROM THE AMERICANS,
245
00:13:03,883 --> 00:13:07,687
{\an7}THE BRITS GAVE HIM ONE
\h\h\h\hFOR OVER 2,500,
246
00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,256
{\an7}AND ULTIMATELY ALL OF THE WORLD
\h\h\h\h\hBOUGHT THAT PARACHUTE
247
00:13:10,290 --> 00:13:12,025
{\an7}BECAUSE OF ITS TEST RECORD,
248
00:13:12,058 --> 00:13:14,060
{\an7}AND IN A VERY SHORT
\h\hPERIOD OF TIME,
249
00:13:14,093 --> 00:13:18,564
{\an7}IRVIN SOLD 100,000 PARACHUTES
\h\h\h\hALL AROUND THE WORLD.
250
00:13:18,598 --> 00:13:21,134
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE RIPCORD
AND PILOT CHUTE OF THE MODEL A
251
00:13:21,167 --> 00:13:22,802
{\an7}ARE SO SUCCESSFUL,
252
00:13:22,835 --> 00:13:25,404
{\an7}THEY’VE BARELY CHANGED
\hIN ALMOST A CENTURY.
253
00:13:28,141 --> 00:13:33,747
{\an7}EVEN TODAY, EMERGENCY CHUTES
\h\hHAVE A SIMILAR DESIGN...
254
00:13:33,780 --> 00:13:35,915
{\an7}APART FROM ONE KEY COMPONENT:
255
00:13:35,948 --> 00:13:39,585
{\an7}THE MATERIAL THEY’RE MADE FROM.
256
00:13:39,619 --> 00:13:42,589
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THAT CHANGE
COMES DURING WORLD WAR II.
257
00:13:49,996 --> 00:13:52,899
{\an7}PLANES HAVE ADVANCED RADICALLY,
258
00:13:52,932 --> 00:13:55,034
{\an7}AND AERIAL COMBAT
\hIS NOW CRITICAL
259
00:13:55,068 --> 00:13:58,104
{\an7}TO THE ALLIED WAR EFFORT.
260
00:13:58,137 --> 00:13:59,805
{\an7}[GUNFIRE]
261
00:13:59,839 --> 00:14:02,175
{\an7}BUT WHILE AIRPLANE SPEEDS
\h\h\h\h\hHAVE INCREASED
262
00:14:02,208 --> 00:14:07,046
{\an7}FROM JUST 170 MILES PER HOUR
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO OVER 450,
263
00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:11,017
{\an7}PARACHUTES HAVE HARDLY CHANGED.
264
00:14:11,050 --> 00:14:12,652
{\an7}THEY MAY NO LONGER BE A MATCH
265
00:14:12,685 --> 00:14:16,756
{\an7}FOR THE NEW BREED
OF FASTER PLANE.
266
00:14:16,789 --> 00:14:18,491
{\an7}Booth: AS THE AERIAL VEHICLES
\h\h\h\hGOT MORE PERFORMANCE,
267
00:14:18,524 --> 00:14:20,693
{\an7}\hWE NEEDED PARACHUTES
WITH MORE PERFORMANCE.
268
00:14:20,727 --> 00:14:25,832
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hYOU’VE GOT TO KEEP UP
WITH WHAT YOU’RE WORKING WITH.
269
00:14:25,865 --> 00:14:28,234
{\an7}Narrator: U.S. FIGHTER PILOT
\h\h\h\h\h\hBOB WITHEE’S LIFE
270
00:14:28,267 --> 00:14:30,736
{\an7}WILL HANG IN THE BALANCE
271
00:14:30,770 --> 00:14:34,540
{\an7}AFTER HE OPENS HIS CHUTE
\h\h\h\h\hAT HIGH SPEED.
272
00:14:34,574 --> 00:14:37,610
{\an7}HE’S FLYING A P-51 MUSTANG
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN TAIWAN--
273
00:14:37,643 --> 00:14:40,045
{\an7}THEN KNOWN AS FORMOSA--
274
00:14:40,079 --> 00:14:44,817
{\an7}AND WEARING A RIPCORD-ACTIVATED
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSILK PARACHUTE.
275
00:14:44,851 --> 00:14:47,654
{\an7}HIS MISSION IS TO PROTECT
\h\h\hFOUR OTHER FIGHTERS
276
00:14:47,687 --> 00:14:50,957
{\an7}ATTACKING TARGETS
ALONG THE COAST.
277
00:14:50,990 --> 00:14:53,226
{\an7}Robert Withee: WE WERE HITTING
\h\h\h\hEVERYTHING THAT MOVED.
278
00:14:53,259 --> 00:14:55,061
{\an7}WHETHER TROOPS ON THE GROUND,
279
00:14:55,094 --> 00:14:56,929
{\an7}PLANES IN AN AIRPORT,
280
00:14:56,963 --> 00:15:00,266
{\an7}OR SHIPS AT SEA.
281
00:15:00,299 --> 00:15:03,435
{\an7}Narrator: HE’S CRUISING
\hAT 350 MILES PER HOUR
282
00:15:03,469 --> 00:15:06,405
{\an7}AND AN ALTITUDE OF 5,000 FEET.
283
00:15:06,439 --> 00:15:10,276
{\an7}WITHOUT WARNING, HIS WINGMAN
\hTURNS ABRUPTLY TOWARD HIM.
284
00:15:10,309 --> 00:15:12,111
{\an7}THEY COLLIDE,
285
00:15:12,145 --> 00:15:14,914
{\an7}CUTTING OFF THE TAIL
\hOF WITHEE’S PLANE,
286
00:15:14,947 --> 00:15:17,516
{\an7}PUTTING IT INTO A TERMINAL DIVE.
287
00:15:17,550 --> 00:15:19,952
{\an7}Withee: I WAS SPINNING DOWN
\h\h\h\h\hAT A GREAT RATE,
288
00:15:19,986 --> 00:15:22,188
{\an7}SO WHEN I RELEASED
\h\hMY SAFETY BELT,
289
00:15:22,221 --> 00:15:24,523
{\an7}JUST THE AIR CURRENT
\h\h\hPULLED ME OUT.
290
00:15:24,557 --> 00:15:27,427
{\an7}THE NEXT THING I KNEW,
\h\h\hI WAS IN THE AIR.
291
00:15:27,460 --> 00:15:29,862
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
DUE TO HIS PLANE’S SPEED,
292
00:15:29,896 --> 00:15:33,967
{\an7}\h\h\hWITHEE IS FALLING THROUGH
THE AIR AT 350 MILES PER HOUR,
293
00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,604
{\an7}\h\h\h\hMUCH FASTER THAN
NORMAL TERMINAL VELOCITY.
294
00:15:37,637 --> 00:15:41,574
{\an7}AND HE KNOWS HE ONLY HAS
\hSECONDS BEFORE IMPACT.
295
00:15:41,607 --> 00:15:44,376
{\an7}\h\hWithee: I DIDN’T WANT TO TAKE
ANY CHANCE OF HITTING THE WATER,
296
00:15:44,410 --> 00:15:48,481
{\an7}SO I OPENED MY CHUTE.
297
00:15:48,514 --> 00:15:54,220
{\an7}Narrator: BUT THE HIGH SPEED IS
\hTEARING THE SILK CHUTE APART.
298
00:15:54,253 --> 00:15:57,256
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWithee:
IT RIPPED OUT TO THE POINT
299
00:15:57,290 --> 00:16:00,360
{\an7}\hWHERE I COULD LOOK THROUGH
AND SEE MY WINGMAN ABOVE ME.
300
00:16:00,393 --> 00:16:03,863
{\an7}\hSO YOU’RE THINKING OF ALL THE
LITTLE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN.
301
00:16:03,896 --> 00:16:06,699
{\an7}WAS IT GONNA RIP OUT MORE?
302
00:16:06,732 --> 00:16:08,968
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
AS WITHEE PLUNGES TO EARTH,
303
00:16:09,001 --> 00:16:12,972
{\an7}\h\h\h\hHE DOESN’T KNOW
IF HIS CHUTE WILL HOLD.
304
00:16:13,005 --> 00:16:15,674
{\an7}Withee: I JUST PREPARED MYSELF
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO HIT THE WATER
305
00:16:15,708 --> 00:16:17,410
{\an7}AT A PRETTY GOOD SPEED.
306
00:16:26,486 --> 00:16:27,887
{\an7}Narrator: DESPITE THE RIP,
307
00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,924
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE PARACHUTE
SLOWED HIM DOWN ENOUGH.
308
00:16:31,958 --> 00:16:33,793
{\an7}NEITHER HE, NOR HIS CHILDREN,
309
00:16:33,826 --> 00:16:36,662
{\an7}\h\h\h\hGRANDCHILDREN,
OR GREAT GRANDCHILDREN
310
00:16:36,696 --> 00:16:38,431
{\an7}WOULD BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT IT.
311
00:16:38,464 --> 00:16:40,733
{\an7}Withee: HE’S MY BUDDY.
312
00:16:40,766 --> 00:16:43,636
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS IS JUST
A PART OF THE PARACHUTE.
313
00:16:43,669 --> 00:16:45,938
{\an7}Narrator: WITHEE STILL HAS
\h\hA SECTION OF THE CHUTE
314
00:16:45,972 --> 00:16:47,674
{\an7}AND THE RIPCORD THAT SAVED HIM.
315
00:16:47,707 --> 00:16:48,908
{\an7}Withee: RIGHT HERE.
316
00:16:48,941 --> 00:16:51,610
{\an7}SO WHEN YOU WANT TO OPEN
THE CHUTE, YOU PULL THIS.
317
00:16:51,644 --> 00:16:53,012
{\an7}Narrator: BUT HIS CLOSE SHAVE
318
00:16:53,045 --> 00:16:55,681
{\an7}REVEALS THAT SILK PARACHUTES
\h\h\h\h\h\hCAN BE UNRELIABLE
319
00:16:55,715 --> 00:16:58,318
{\an7}WHEN DEPLOYED AT HIGH SPEED.
320
00:16:58,351 --> 00:17:01,154
{\an7}Kididis: SILK PARACHUTES
\h\h\hHAD DISADVANTAGES.
321
00:17:01,187 --> 00:17:05,358
{\an7}THEY WERE SUSCEPTIBLE
TO, UH, MOLD, MILDEW.
322
00:17:05,391 --> 00:17:08,060
{\an7}\h\h\h\hWorks: IF SILK IS FOLDED
IN THE SAME PLACE SEVERAL TIMES,
323
00:17:08,094 --> 00:17:09,429
{\an7}IT’S LIKE PAPER.
324
00:17:09,462 --> 00:17:11,831
{\an7}IF YOU FOLD IT ENOUGH,
\hIT’S GOING TO BREAK.
325
00:17:11,864 --> 00:17:13,065
{\an7}Narrator: THE AIR FORCE
326
00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:15,969
{\an7}MUST FIND A STURDIER
\hMATERIAL THAN SILK,
327
00:17:16,002 --> 00:17:19,272
{\an7}AND THERE’S AN ADDED URGENCY
\h\h\h\h\h\hTO THEIR SEARCH.
328
00:17:19,305 --> 00:17:20,673
{\an7}Booth: ALL THE WORLD’S SILK
329
00:17:20,706 --> 00:17:22,641
{\an7}\h\hPRETTY MUCH CAME
FROM JAPAN AND CHINA,
330
00:17:22,675 --> 00:17:26,179
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND JAPAN CUT OFF
THE SUPPLY OF SILK TO US.
331
00:17:26,212 --> 00:17:30,850
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
ONE NEW FABRIC STANDS OUT.
332
00:17:30,883 --> 00:17:33,986
{\an7}\hAND IT COMES FROM
AN UNLIKELY SOURCE.
333
00:17:37,189 --> 00:17:40,459
{\an7}LADIES’ STOCKINGS.
334
00:17:40,493 --> 00:17:42,395
{\an7}TRADITIONALLY MADE FROM SILK,
335
00:17:42,428 --> 00:17:44,096
{\an7}BY WORLD WAR II,
336
00:17:44,130 --> 00:17:46,766
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE SWITCHED
TO A MORE DURABLE ALTERNATIVE
337
00:17:46,799 --> 00:17:49,902
{\an7}CALLED NYLON.
338
00:17:49,936 --> 00:17:51,471
{\an7}IT’S A SYNTHETIC MATERIAL
339
00:17:51,504 --> 00:17:56,142
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hCREATED BY CHEMIST
WALLACE CAROTHERS OF DUPONT.
340
00:17:56,175 --> 00:18:00,246
{\an7}\h\hITS MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
MAKES IT EXTREMELY ROBUST.
341
00:18:02,515 --> 00:18:08,154
{\an7}THE NYLON FIBERS ARE MADE UP OF
\hSUPER-LONG MOLECULAR CHAINS.
342
00:18:08,187 --> 00:18:10,156
{\an7}THE OVERLAPPING MOLECULES
343
00:18:10,189 --> 00:18:14,326
{\an7}\h\hGIVE THE MATERIAL
EXCEPTIONAL STRENGTH.
344
00:18:14,360 --> 00:18:15,561
{\an7}Works: SILK IS DAMN GOOD,
345
00:18:15,595 --> 00:18:18,231
{\an7}\h\hAND THE ONLY THING
THAT’S BETTER IS NYLON.
346
00:18:18,264 --> 00:18:20,066
{\an7}THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE IT.
347
00:18:20,099 --> 00:18:22,034
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
TESTS REVEAL THAT NYLON
348
00:18:22,068 --> 00:18:24,404
{\an7}IS EVEN STRONGER THAN SILK,
349
00:18:24,437 --> 00:18:27,840
{\an7}AND IT HAS OTHER BENEFITS, TOO.
350
00:18:27,873 --> 00:18:30,075
{\an7}\hBooth: IT PACKS UP SMALLER,
AND IT’S STRONGER THAN SILK,
351
00:18:30,109 --> 00:18:33,012
{\an7}AND IT COSTS A WHOLE LOT LESS.
352
00:18:33,045 --> 00:18:34,480
{\an7}Narrator: BY 1942,
353
00:18:34,513 --> 00:18:37,750
{\an7}DUPONT HAS TURNED ITS ENTIRE
\h\h\h\hNYLON PRODUCTION OVER
354
00:18:37,783 --> 00:18:39,418
{\an7}FROM STOCKINGS TO CHUTES
355
00:18:39,452 --> 00:18:41,688
{\an7}AND OTHER MILITARY SUPPLIES.
356
00:18:41,721 --> 00:18:43,122
{\an7}AS A RESULT,
357
00:18:43,155 --> 00:18:45,457
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTENS OF THOUSANDS
OF WORLD WAR II PILOTS’ LIVES
358
00:18:45,491 --> 00:18:47,393
{\an7}ARE SAVED.
359
00:18:49,996 --> 00:18:54,067
{\an7}EVEN TODAY, NYLON IS ESSENTIAL
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR PARACHUTES,
360
00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:59,806
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND NOT JUST CANOPIES,
BUT ALSO STRAPS AND HARNESSES.
361
00:18:59,839 --> 00:19:04,610
{\an7}\hBILL BOOTH’S COMPANY HAS MADE
OVER 60,000 PARACHUTE SYSTEMS.
362
00:19:04,644 --> 00:19:06,546
{\an7}THEY REGULARLY TEST
\h\h\hTHE MATERIALS
363
00:19:06,579 --> 00:19:09,949
{\an7}THAT SKYDIVERS’ LIVES
\h\h\h\hDEPEND ON...
364
00:19:09,982 --> 00:19:12,218
{\an7}Booth: NOW, IT’S JUST BEGINNING
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO LOAD UP.
365
00:19:12,251 --> 00:19:15,287
{\an7}Narrator: ...LIKE THE NYLON
WEBBING USED IN HARNESSES.
366
00:19:15,321 --> 00:19:17,590
{\an7}Booth: THE MACHINE IS GOING
\h\h\h\hTO SLOWLY PUT FORCE
367
00:19:17,623 --> 00:19:20,025
{\an7}ON THIS WEBBING.
368
00:19:20,059 --> 00:19:21,594
{\an7}Narrator: ONE PIECE OF WEBBING
369
00:19:21,627 --> 00:19:23,929
{\an7}CAN HOLD THOUSANDS OF POUNDS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF WEIGHT.
370
00:19:23,963 --> 00:19:25,531
{\an7}Booth: EVERYBODY STAND BACK
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA LITTLE BIT.
371
00:19:25,564 --> 00:19:26,799
{\an7}WHAT HAVE WE BEEN GETTING
\h\h\h\h\h\hON THIS NOW?
372
00:19:26,832 --> 00:19:27,800
{\an7}Man: OVER SIX.
373
00:19:27,833 --> 00:19:29,368
{\an7}\h\hBooth: OVER SIX.
6,500. HERE IT GOES.
374
00:19:29,402 --> 00:19:30,436
{\an7}[SNAP]
375
00:19:30,469 --> 00:19:32,805
{\an7}[MACHINERY WHIRRING]
376
00:19:32,838 --> 00:19:36,742
{\an7}THE MACHINE HAS ACTUALLY TAKEN
\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE NYLON MOLECULES
377
00:19:36,776 --> 00:19:39,746
{\an7}AND PULLED THEM APART
\h\hTILL THEY BROKE.
378
00:19:39,779 --> 00:19:43,683
{\an7}THIS LITTLE, THIN PIECE OF NYLON
TOOK--WHAT WAS THE NUMBER?
379
00:19:43,716 --> 00:19:45,384
{\an7}Man: 6,789.
380
00:19:45,418 --> 00:19:48,354
{\an7}Booth: 6,789 POUNDS TO BREAK.
381
00:19:48,387 --> 00:19:52,258
{\an7}IT’S A COOL SUBSTANCE.
382
00:19:52,291 --> 00:19:53,692
{\an7}NYLON IS THE KING.
383
00:19:53,726 --> 00:19:55,695
{\an7}WE MAKE OUR PACKS,
\h\hOUR HARNESSES,
384
00:19:55,728 --> 00:19:58,297
{\an7}AND OUR PARACHUTE CANOPIES
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOUT OF NYLON.
385
00:19:58,330 --> 00:20:01,133
{\an7}SO THAT HASN’T CHANGED
\h\hSINCE WORLD WAR II.
386
00:20:03,169 --> 00:20:05,138
{\an7}Narrator: IN 1942,
387
00:20:05,171 --> 00:20:09,242
{\an7}AMERICAN FACTORIES ARE PRODUCING
MILLIONS OF NYLON PARACHUTES
388
00:20:09,275 --> 00:20:11,210
{\an7}FOR THE WAR EFFORT,
389
00:20:11,243 --> 00:20:14,246
{\an7}\h\h\hBUT THEY’RE NOT JUST
SAFETY DEVICES FOR PILOTS.
390
00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,116
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE WAR BRINGS
A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT USE.
391
00:20:21,887 --> 00:20:24,356
{\an7}SPECIALIST AIRBORNE UNITS,
392
00:20:24,390 --> 00:20:29,729
{\an7}WITH THE SKILLS AND NERVE
TO PARACHUTE INTO BATTLE.
393
00:20:29,762 --> 00:20:32,798
{\an7}\h\h\h\hKididis: YOU CAN FLY THEM
AND DROP THEM WHEREVER YOU WANT,
394
00:20:32,832 --> 00:20:34,200
{\an7}THE ENEMY DOESN’T KNOW
\h\hWHEN THEY’RE COMING
395
00:20:34,233 --> 00:20:36,969
{\an7}AND WHERE THEY’RE
GOING TO SHOW UP.
396
00:20:37,002 --> 00:20:40,539
{\an7}HAVING AIRBORNE TROOPS REALLY
\h\h\hPROVIDED THE CAPABILITY
397
00:20:40,573 --> 00:20:44,977
{\an7}THAT CHANGED MODERN WARFARE.
398
00:20:45,010 --> 00:20:47,212
{\an7}Narrator: IN 1944,
399
00:20:47,246 --> 00:20:50,015
{\an7}13,000 U.S. PARATROOPERS
400
00:20:50,049 --> 00:20:53,486
{\an7}\h\hLEAD THE D-DAY
INVASION OF FRANCE
401
00:20:53,519 --> 00:20:57,256
{\an7}TO DEVASTATING EFFECT.
402
00:20:57,289 --> 00:20:59,391
{\an7}\h\h\h\hWorks: THE SKIES
LITERALLY WERE BLACKENED,
403
00:20:59,425 --> 00:21:02,361
{\an7}AND THEY WERE ABLE TO INJECT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAIRBORNE FORCES
404
00:21:02,394 --> 00:21:04,563
{\an7}BEHIND THE ENEMY LINES
\h\hAT STRATEGIC POINTS
405
00:21:04,597 --> 00:21:07,767
{\an7}WHERE THEY COULD CONTROL
\h\hCROSSROADS, BRIDGES,
406
00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,836
{\an7}AND HARASS ENEMY
\hFROM THE REAR.
407
00:21:10,870 --> 00:21:14,540
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY MADE
A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
408
00:21:14,573 --> 00:21:17,409
{\an7}\hNarrator: PARATROOPERS
SOON EARN THE REPUTATION
409
00:21:17,443 --> 00:21:21,514
{\an7}AS AMONG THE ARMED FORCES’
\h\h\hMOST ELITE SOLDIERS.
410
00:21:21,547 --> 00:21:24,750
{\an7}\h\hTHE U.S. ARMY FORMS
FIVE AIRBORNE DIVISIONS
411
00:21:24,784 --> 00:21:27,654
{\an7}THAT PLAY A DECISIVE ROLE
\h\h\hIN WINNING THE WAR.
412
00:21:35,327 --> 00:21:36,895
{\an7}IN THE POST-WAR YEARS,
413
00:21:36,929 --> 00:21:41,801
{\an7}\h\h\h\hEX-PARATROOPERS INVENT
A WHOLE NEW USE FOR PARACHUTES:
414
00:21:41,834 --> 00:21:46,706
{\an7}\h\h\hJUMPING FROM A PLANE
JUST FOR THE THRILL OF IT.
415
00:21:46,739 --> 00:21:48,074
{\an7}Booth: AFTER THE WAR,
416
00:21:48,107 --> 00:21:50,142
{\an7}WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD
\h\h\h\hJUMPED OUT OF AIRPLANES
417
00:21:50,176 --> 00:21:51,778
{\an7}AND KNEW THEY COULD DO IT.
418
00:21:51,811 --> 00:21:53,212
{\an7}MY FIRST JUMP WAS ON MILITARY
419
00:21:53,245 --> 00:21:55,514
{\an7}SURPLUS GEAR FROM THE FIFTIES.
420
00:21:59,151 --> 00:22:01,020
{\an7}Narrator: THE NOVELTY SPREADS,
421
00:22:01,053 --> 00:22:07,026
{\an7}AND SKYDIVING CLUBS START
OPENING AROUND THE WORLD.
422
00:22:07,059 --> 00:22:08,694
{\an7}BUT THERE’S A HIDDEN DANGER
423
00:22:08,727 --> 00:22:11,697
{\an7}\h\h\hFOR THIS NEW BREED
OF INEXPERIENCED JUMPER.
424
00:22:15,568 --> 00:22:17,336
{\an7}John Eiff: THE PARACHUTES
425
00:22:17,369 --> 00:22:19,605
{\an7}WERE NOT VERY MANEUVERABLE
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT THE TIME,
426
00:22:19,638 --> 00:22:23,675
{\an7}AND YOU GOT BLOWN WHERE
YOU DIDN’T WANT TO GO.
427
00:22:23,709 --> 00:22:26,212
{\an7}\h\h\hBooth: THERE WAS A FATALITY
I HEARD OF IN THE EARLY FIFTIES.
428
00:22:26,245 --> 00:22:29,181
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hA GUY WAS KILLED
LANDING ON A MOVING TRAIN.
429
00:22:29,215 --> 00:22:30,850
{\an7}THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT DROWNED
430
00:22:30,883 --> 00:22:35,154
{\an7}BECAUSE THEY GOT BLOWN
\hOVER BODIES OF WATER.
431
00:22:35,187 --> 00:22:38,190
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: SKYDIVERS
ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE WIND
432
00:22:38,224 --> 00:22:41,461
{\an7}\hAND HAVE NO CONTROL
OVER WHERE THEY LAND.
433
00:22:41,493 --> 00:22:42,828
{\an7}THEY NEED A PARACHUTE
434
00:22:42,862 --> 00:22:46,499
{\an7}THAT CAN GLIDE TOWARD
A SAFE LANDING SPOT.
435
00:22:46,532 --> 00:22:49,268
{\an7}IT WILL TAKE AN ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING
436
00:22:49,301 --> 00:22:50,803
{\an7}TO ACHIEVE THIS.
437
00:22:57,643 --> 00:23:03,349
{\an7}IN 1957, A KITE MAKER AND PILOT
\h\h\h\h\hCALLED DOMINA JALBERT
438
00:23:03,382 --> 00:23:06,352
{\an7}HAS A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA.
439
00:23:06,385 --> 00:23:08,587
{\an7}Eiff: HE WAS A KITE DESIGNER.
440
00:23:08,621 --> 00:23:12,425
{\an7}\hAND IT WAS INTERESTING
HOW HE TOOK THE CONCEPT.
441
00:23:12,458 --> 00:23:14,727
{\an7}\h\hHE WAS FLYING OVER
TO THE BAHAMAS ONE DAY,
442
00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:15,894
{\an7}\h\hAND HE JUST KIND OF
LOOKED OUT AT THE WING
443
00:23:15,928 --> 00:23:18,464
{\an7}AND STARTED TO IMAGINE
\h\hTHE FLOW OF THE AIR
444
00:23:18,497 --> 00:23:23,736
{\an7}GOING ACROSS THE WING.
445
00:23:23,769 --> 00:23:24,870
{\an7}AND HE WAS THINKING,
446
00:23:24,904 --> 00:23:27,306
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBOY, IF I COULD
DESIGN A KITE LIKE A WING,
447
00:23:27,339 --> 00:23:29,508
{\an7}IT WOULD FLY LIKE A WING.
448
00:23:29,541 --> 00:23:32,778
{\an7}SO THAT’S WHAT HE DID.
449
00:23:32,811 --> 00:23:34,212
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
AS SOON AS HE LANDS,
450
00:23:34,246 --> 00:23:38,851
{\an7}\h\h\hJALBERT MEASURES
THE PLANE’S DIMENSIONS.
451
00:23:38,884 --> 00:23:44,723
{\an7}HIS PLAN IS TO MAKE A WING
\h\h\h\h\h\hOUT OF FABRIC.
452
00:23:44,757 --> 00:23:49,061
{\an7}GERALD NATHE WAS A RESEARCHER
\h\hWHO WORKED WITH JALBERT.
453
00:23:49,094 --> 00:23:52,264
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hHE’S TRACKED DOWN
SOME OF THE ORIGINAL KITES.
454
00:23:52,298 --> 00:23:53,933
{\an7}Gerald Nathe: YOU SEE THIS,
455
00:23:53,966 --> 00:23:58,537
{\an7}IT SAYS, "JALBERT’S MULTICELLED
PARAFOIL, PATENT APPLIED FOR."
456
00:23:58,570 --> 00:24:02,040
{\an7}\h\h\h\hBRINGS BACK
A LOT OF MEMORIES.
457
00:24:02,074 --> 00:24:04,243
{\an7}\h\h\h\hIF YOU LOOK AT
WHAT I’M HOLDING HERE,
458
00:24:04,276 --> 00:24:06,011
{\an7}THE RED PART OF THE SIDE HERE
459
00:24:06,045 --> 00:24:08,447
{\an7}IS THE AIRFOIL OR THE WING,
460
00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:12,617
{\an7}WHAT LOOKS LIKE A WING
\h\h\h\hON AN AIRPLANE.
461
00:24:12,651 --> 00:24:15,387
{\an7}\hNarrator: AIR ENTERS
THE HOLES AT THE FRONT,
462
00:24:15,421 --> 00:24:19,759
{\an7}INFLATING THE KITE
INTO A RIGID SHAPE:
463
00:24:19,792 --> 00:24:23,929
{\an7}A TECHNIQUE CALLED RAM-AIR.
464
00:24:23,963 --> 00:24:26,632
{\an7}\h\hAS THE FABRIC WING
PASSES THROUGH THE AIR,
465
00:24:26,665 --> 00:24:30,235
{\an7}THE PRESSURE ON TOP IS LOWER
THAN THE PRESSURE UNDERNEATH,
466
00:24:30,269 --> 00:24:32,538
{\an7}PRODUCING LIFT...
467
00:24:32,571 --> 00:24:37,709
{\an7}JUST LIKE THE WINGS ON A PLANE.
468
00:24:37,743 --> 00:24:38,944
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDomina Jalbert:
OK, UP STRAIGHT, UP STRAIGHT.
469
00:24:38,978 --> 00:24:40,847
{\an7}THERE’S A RIGHT TURN.
470
00:24:40,879 --> 00:24:42,280
{\an7}PULL TO THE RIGHT.
471
00:24:42,314 --> 00:24:45,617
{\an7}Works: A KITE THAT GLIDES...
472
00:24:45,651 --> 00:24:48,154
{\an7}THAT’S REVOLUTIONARY.
473
00:24:48,187 --> 00:24:49,622
{\an7}Jalbert: I RELEASE THE RIGHT
\h\h\h\hAND PULL ON THE LEFT.
474
00:24:49,655 --> 00:24:51,824
{\an7}SHE GOES TO LEFT TURN.
475
00:24:51,857 --> 00:24:53,926
{\an7}LEFT-HAND TURN.
476
00:24:53,959 --> 00:24:55,594
{\an7}STRAIGHT UP.
477
00:24:55,627 --> 00:24:57,395
{\an7}BRING IT DOWN TO A STALL.
478
00:24:57,429 --> 00:25:00,132
{\an7}Narrator: AFTER HIS SUCCESS
\h\h\h\h\hWITH SMALL KITES,
479
00:25:00,165 --> 00:25:02,734
{\an7}\hJALBERT AND HIS TEAM MAKE
BIGGER AND BIGGER VERSIONS
480
00:25:02,768 --> 00:25:06,038
{\an7}OF HIS INVENTION.
481
00:25:06,071 --> 00:25:12,678
{\an7}Nathe: I HAVEN’T SEEN THIS BABY
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN 50 YEARS EITHER.
482
00:25:12,711 --> 00:25:13,946
{\an7}IT’S A MUCH BIGGER ONE
483
00:25:13,979 --> 00:25:18,116
{\an7}THAN THE SMALL ONE
THAT WE JUST USED.
484
00:25:18,150 --> 00:25:19,685
{\an7}Narrator: THE BIGGER IT GETS,
485
00:25:19,718 --> 00:25:21,520
{\an7}THE MORE LIFT IT PRODUCES.
486
00:25:25,824 --> 00:25:27,392
{\an7}Nathe: YOU FEEL IT.
487
00:25:27,426 --> 00:25:31,864
{\an7}THERE’S A LOT OF PULL ON IT.
488
00:25:31,897 --> 00:25:33,766
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hYOU CAN FEEL
THE LIFT ON THE THING.
489
00:25:33,799 --> 00:25:35,668
{\an7}A PERSON COULD HAVE
\hA DIFFICULT TIME
490
00:25:35,701 --> 00:25:38,871
{\an7}HOLDING THIS IN A STRONG WIND.
491
00:25:38,904 --> 00:25:42,307
{\an7}Narrator: JALBERT SOON REALIZES
\h\h\hTHAT HIS NEW FABRIC WING
492
00:25:42,341 --> 00:25:45,077
{\an7}HAS HUGE POTENTIAL.
493
00:25:45,110 --> 00:25:47,012
{\an7}\h\hIF HE COULD MAKE
A PARACHUTE FROM ONE,
494
00:25:47,046 --> 00:25:48,748
{\an7}IT WOULD GLIDE,
495
00:25:48,781 --> 00:25:52,385
{\an7}\h\h\hGIVING SKYDIVERS
THE CONTROL THEY NEED.
496
00:25:52,418 --> 00:25:56,722
{\an7}BUT IS IT RELIABLE ENOUGH
\hTO USE AS A PARACHUTE?
497
00:25:56,755 --> 00:25:58,457
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNathe:
I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL ABOUT
498
00:25:58,490 --> 00:26:00,459
{\an7}IF WE EVER HAD SOMEONE PUT ON IT
499
00:26:00,492 --> 00:26:01,893
{\an7}AND THEY JUMPED OUT
\h\hOF AN AIRPLANE,
500
00:26:01,927 --> 00:26:06,265
{\an7}\hWHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD OPEN
A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME.
501
00:26:06,298 --> 00:26:08,300
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT
502
00:26:08,333 --> 00:26:10,569
{\an7}IS TO TRY IT.
503
00:26:10,602 --> 00:26:12,437
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBILL BOOTH
IS ONE OF THE PIONEERS
504
00:26:12,471 --> 00:26:16,642
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHO TESTS
THE NEWLY DESIGNED CHUTES.
505
00:26:16,675 --> 00:26:22,247
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBooth: I TEST-JUMPED
SOME OF THE EARLY JALBERT FOILS.
506
00:26:22,281 --> 00:26:24,216
{\an7}\h\h\h\hSOMETIMES IT’S
A GREAT LEAP OF FAITH,
507
00:26:24,249 --> 00:26:28,820
{\an7}\h\h\hAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED
WORKING OUT THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY.
508
00:26:28,854 --> 00:26:30,656
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA LOT DEPENDS
ON PEOPLE HAVING ENOUGH GUTS
509
00:26:30,689 --> 00:26:33,792
{\an7}TO JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE
WITH AN UNPROVEN PARACHUTE.
510
00:26:43,469 --> 00:26:46,005
{\an7}Narrator: THE NEW DESIGN WORKS,
511
00:26:46,038 --> 00:26:50,609
{\an7}AND BOOTH GLIDES
THROUGH THE SKY.
512
00:26:50,642 --> 00:26:52,144
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBooth:
IT WAS SUCH A GOOD FEELING.
513
00:26:52,177 --> 00:26:53,645
{\an7}MEN HAVE ALWAYS WANTED
\h\hTO FLY LIKE BIRDS,
514
00:26:53,679 --> 00:26:56,215
{\an7}AND NOW WE REALLY COULD.
515
00:26:56,248 --> 00:26:57,583
{\an7}WITH A ROUND PARACHUTE,
516
00:26:57,616 --> 00:26:59,451
{\an7}ALL YOU DID WHEN YOU POINTED IT
\h\h\hIS YOU CHANGED YOUR VIEW.
517
00:26:59,485 --> 00:27:01,153
{\an7}YOU DIDN’T REALLY GO THERE.
518
00:27:01,186 --> 00:27:02,354
{\an7}BUT WITH A RAM-AIR,
519
00:27:02,387 --> 00:27:04,556
{\an7}I COULD ACTUALLY FLY
\hWHERE I WANTED TO.
520
00:27:04,590 --> 00:27:06,492
{\an7}YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE
\hKING OF THE SKY NOW.
521
00:27:06,525 --> 00:27:10,329
{\an7}♪
522
00:27:10,362 --> 00:27:13,031
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
JALBERT NAMES HIS INVENTION
523
00:27:13,065 --> 00:27:15,200
{\an7}THE PARAFOIL.
524
00:27:15,234 --> 00:27:17,503
{\an7}BUT WHEN THE TEST-JUMPERS
TRY WAITING A FEW SECONDS
525
00:27:17,536 --> 00:27:19,705
{\an7}BEFORE PULLING THEIR RIPCORD,
526
00:27:19,738 --> 00:27:21,473
{\an7}THEY NOTICE A DESIGN FLAW.
527
00:27:27,212 --> 00:27:29,781
{\an7}\hBooth: THE RAM-AIR WOULD
COME OUT AND GO, "BAM! HI!"
528
00:27:29,815 --> 00:27:32,051
{\an7}AND YOU’RE AT THE OTHER END
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGOING BOOM.
529
00:27:32,084 --> 00:27:34,553
{\an7}\h\h\h\hSO YOU’RE GOING
FROM 120 MILES AN HOUR,
530
00:27:34,586 --> 00:27:36,888
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND HALF A SECOND LATER
YOU’RE GOING 10 MILES AN HOUR.
531
00:27:36,922 --> 00:27:38,991
{\an7}\h\hTHAT’S PUTTING
ON THE BRAKES HARD.
532
00:27:39,024 --> 00:27:40,526
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
WHEN THEY PULL THE RIPCORD,
533
00:27:40,559 --> 00:27:44,530
{\an7}THE PARACHUTE SLOWS THEM DOWN
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTOO VIOLENTLY.
534
00:27:44,563 --> 00:27:48,167
{\an7}JOHN EIFF ALSO MAKES
\h\hSOME TEST JUMPS.
535
00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:49,601
{\an7}\h\h\hEiff: AT NIGHT
YOU’D SEE THE BRUISES
536
00:27:49,635 --> 00:27:52,371
{\an7}WHERE YOUR PARACHUTE
\h\h\h\hHARNESS WAS.
537
00:27:52,404 --> 00:27:55,173
{\an7}IT’S LIKE BELLY-FLOPPING
\h\h\h\hFROM A HIGH DIVE.
538
00:27:55,207 --> 00:27:56,909
{\an7}Booth: I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS
SIX OR SEVEN TIMES
539
00:27:56,942 --> 00:27:59,211
{\an7}BY OPENING SHOCKS.
540
00:27:59,244 --> 00:28:01,213
{\an7}SO WE HAD TO STOP IT
\h\h\hFROM GOING BAM.
541
00:28:01,246 --> 00:28:02,347
{\an7}WE HAD TO FIND WAYS
542
00:28:02,381 --> 00:28:06,118
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTO STOP THE AIR
FROM GETTING IN SO FAST.
543
00:28:06,151 --> 00:28:09,554
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: JALBERT’S
REVOLUTIONARY PARAFOIL
544
00:28:09,588 --> 00:28:13,092
{\an7}\h\hHAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE
SAFEST, MOST RELIABLE PARACHUTE
545
00:28:13,125 --> 00:28:14,994
{\an7}OF ALL TIME.
546
00:28:15,027 --> 00:28:17,229
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT FIRST,
SOMEONE MUST FIND A WAY
547
00:28:17,262 --> 00:28:19,798
{\an7}TO EASE THE VIOLENT OPENING.
548
00:28:21,833 --> 00:28:23,335
{\an7}Eiff: YOU WOULD TRY EVERYTHING.
549
00:28:23,368 --> 00:28:25,570
{\an7}\h\h\h\hI MEAN LITERALLY
WE’D TIE THINGS IN KNOTS
550
00:28:25,604 --> 00:28:28,607
{\an7}AND SEE HOW IT WOULD WORK.
551
00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,243
{\an7}Narrator: IT’S NOT UNTIL 1973
552
00:28:31,276 --> 00:28:34,479
{\an7}\h\hTHAT AN ENGINEER
CALLED GREG JARBENET
553
00:28:34,513 --> 00:28:39,818
{\an7}\h\h\hCOMES UP WITH THE SOLUTION
WHILE TESTING A MODEL PARACHUTE.
554
00:28:39,851 --> 00:28:41,052
{\an7}Booth: AND HE LOOKED
\hAT HIS WEDDING RING
555
00:28:41,086 --> 00:28:42,654
{\an7}AND SAID, "WAIT A MINUTE.
556
00:28:42,688 --> 00:28:46,892
{\an7}\hWHAT IF I TAKE THIS RING
AND PUT IT OVER THESE LINES
557
00:28:46,925 --> 00:28:49,294
{\an7}AND SLIDE IT UP TO THE CANOPY?"
558
00:28:49,328 --> 00:28:55,034
{\an7}HE WENT, "WOW, THAT CLOSES IT
\h\h\hWAY DOWN, IT REEFS IT."
559
00:28:55,067 --> 00:28:57,169
{\an7}BUT WHEN I LET GO OF THIS RING,
560
00:28:57,202 --> 00:29:00,439
{\an7}THEN THE PARACHUTE’S
\h\hALLOWED TO OPEN.
561
00:29:00,472 --> 00:29:03,875
{\an7}IT JUST SLOWS DOWN THE OPENING.
562
00:29:03,909 --> 00:29:05,411
{\an7}AND THAT’S WHAT MADE
\h\hJUMPING RAM-AIRS
563
00:29:05,444 --> 00:29:07,279
{\an7}AT TERMINAL VELOCITY POSSIBLE.
564
00:29:07,312 --> 00:29:09,514
{\an7}SIMPLE LITTLE DEVICE.
565
00:29:09,548 --> 00:29:11,316
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
THE SLIDER IS BORN.
566
00:29:15,087 --> 00:29:17,556
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY KEEPING
THE PARACHUTE PARTIALLY CLOSED
567
00:29:17,589 --> 00:29:19,491
{\an7}FOR A FEW SECONDS,
568
00:29:19,524 --> 00:29:23,862
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hTHE SKYDIVER
SLOWS DOWN MORE GENTLY.
569
00:29:23,895 --> 00:29:27,031
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hMODERN SLIDERS ARE
A RECTANGULAR PIECE OF FABRIC
570
00:29:27,065 --> 00:29:33,672
{\an7}\hTHAT MOVES DOWN THE LINES
ABOVE THE SKYDIVER’S HEAD.
571
00:29:33,705 --> 00:29:38,276
{\an7}JALBERT’S PARAFOIL IS COMPLETE.
572
00:29:38,310 --> 00:29:40,445
{\an7}FOR THE FIRST TIME,
573
00:29:40,479 --> 00:29:43,816
{\an7}\h\h\h\hPARACHUTES COULD BE
FLOWN OVER LARGE DISTANCES
574
00:29:43,849 --> 00:29:46,418
{\an7}TO A PRECISE LANDING SPOT.
575
00:29:49,988 --> 00:29:54,726
{\an7}\hTHE PARACHUTE HAS CHANGED FROM
A DEVICE TO SIMPLY SLOW YOU DOWN
576
00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:56,428
{\an7}TO A FABRIC WING
577
00:29:56,461 --> 00:30:02,934
{\an7}THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO FLY
WITH INCREDIBLE CONTROL.
578
00:30:02,968 --> 00:30:05,504
{\an7}Eiff: IT JUST GIVES YOU
\hTHE ULTIMATE FREEDOM.
579
00:30:05,537 --> 00:30:07,039
{\an7}YOU FEEL LIKE A BIRD.
580
00:30:07,072 --> 00:30:08,340
{\an7}WE KNOW WHY BIRDS SING.
581
00:30:08,373 --> 00:30:11,076
{\an7}IT’S BECAUSE THEY’RE HAVING
\h\h\hSO MUCH FUN UP THERE.
582
00:30:14,046 --> 00:30:17,116
{\an7}Narrator: THRILL-SEEKERS NOW
MAKE OVER THREE MILLION JUMPS
583
00:30:17,149 --> 00:30:22,154
{\an7}\h\h\hWITH RAM-AIR PARACHUTES
EVERY YEAR IN THE U.S. ALONE.
584
00:30:22,187 --> 00:30:25,624
{\an7}FROM FIRST-TIME TANDEMS...
585
00:30:25,657 --> 00:30:27,692
{\an7}TO EXPERIENCED BASE JUMPERS...
586
00:30:31,830 --> 00:30:34,066
{\an7}TO COMPETITIVE SWOOPERS.
587
00:30:41,039 --> 00:30:46,912
{\an7}\h\hBUT PARACHUTES ARE USED
FOR MORE THAN JUST PEOPLE.
588
00:30:46,945 --> 00:30:48,346
{\an7}AND THAT STORY GOES BACK
589
00:30:48,380 --> 00:30:53,919
{\an7}TO THE HANG-GLIDING BOOM
\h\h\h\h\h\hIN THE 1970s.
590
00:30:53,952 --> 00:30:55,821
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hBoris Popov:
THE HANG-GLIDING SCENE
591
00:30:55,854 --> 00:30:58,557
{\an7}IN THE ’70s WAS WILD, CRAZY.
592
00:30:58,590 --> 00:30:59,558
{\an7}IT WAS GREAT.
593
00:30:59,591 --> 00:31:01,126
{\an7}IT GOT YOU INTO THE AIR.
594
00:31:01,159 --> 00:31:04,229
{\an7}SO ALL OF US WERE,
YOU KNOW, THRILLED.
595
00:31:04,262 --> 00:31:07,799
{\an7}\hIT’S A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL ACTIVITY.
596
00:31:07,833 --> 00:31:12,104
{\an7}Narrator: BUT IT’S ONLY FUN
UNTIL SOMETHING GOES WRONG,
597
00:31:12,137 --> 00:31:15,674
{\an7}BECAUSE PERSONAL PARACHUTES
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE NO USE.
598
00:31:15,707 --> 00:31:16,841
{\an7}Popov: BEING IN A HANG-GLIDER,
599
00:31:16,875 --> 00:31:18,410
{\an7}YOU’D HAVE TO BREAK AWAY
\h\hFROM THE HANG-GLIDER,
600
00:31:18,443 --> 00:31:19,844
{\an7}SOMEHOW CUT AWAY.
601
00:31:19,878 --> 00:31:21,046
{\an7}IT TAKES TIME.
602
00:31:21,079 --> 00:31:25,116
{\an7}IT’S NOT GONNA WORK
IN THIS SITUATION.
603
00:31:25,150 --> 00:31:27,452
{\an7}Narrator: IN 1977,
604
00:31:27,486 --> 00:31:30,789
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBORIS POPOV
IS FLYING HIS HANG-GLIDER
605
00:31:30,822 --> 00:31:34,426
{\an7}BEHIND A FRIEND’S BOAT.
606
00:31:34,459 --> 00:31:36,494
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPopov: I SAID
IF I CROSS MY SKIS, SLOW DOWN,
607
00:31:36,528 --> 00:31:40,165
{\an7}IF I SPREAD MY SKIS APART,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSPEED UP.
608
00:31:40,198 --> 00:31:41,966
{\an7}SO HE HIT THE THROTTLE
\h\h\h\hON THIS THING,
609
00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:43,468
{\an7}AND UP I WENT.
610
00:31:43,502 --> 00:31:46,338
{\an7}Narrator: HE CLIMBS TO 500 FEET,
611
00:31:46,371 --> 00:31:51,443
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT THEN
COMMUNICATION BREAKS DOWN.
612
00:31:51,476 --> 00:31:56,348
{\an7}Popov: I’M SCREAMING IN SPEED,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWAY TOO FAST.
613
00:31:56,381 --> 00:31:58,049
{\an7}SO I SIGNAL FOR HIM
\h\h\hTO SLOW DOWN,
614
00:31:58,083 --> 00:32:00,285
{\an7}AND HE GOT THE MESSAGE CROSSED.
615
00:32:00,318 --> 00:32:06,457
{\an7}HE HIT THE REST OF THE THROTTLE.
616
00:32:06,491 --> 00:32:10,895
{\an7}THE CROSSBAR BROKE.
617
00:32:10,929 --> 00:32:16,735
{\an7}PITCHED UP, STOPPED,
\h\h\hPITCHED DOWN...
618
00:32:16,768 --> 00:32:20,105
{\an7}\h\h\hSTART SPINNING TO WHAT
I THOUGHT WAS MY SURE DEATH.
619
00:32:20,138 --> 00:32:24,709
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h500 FEET,
YOU’RE NOT GONNA SURVIVE THAT.
620
00:32:24,743 --> 00:32:30,582
{\an7}\h\h\h\hNarrator: AS HE FALLS,
HE HAS A MOMENT OF REALIZATION.
621
00:32:30,615 --> 00:32:33,051
{\an7}Popov: I WAS ANGRY,
\h\h\hI WAS SCARED.
622
00:32:33,084 --> 00:32:34,285
{\an7}A LOT OF EMOTIONS.
623
00:32:34,319 --> 00:32:35,787
{\an7}BUT THE PRIMARY ONE
624
00:32:35,821 --> 00:32:37,723
{\an7}\hWAS HOW STUPID
THIS SITUATION IS
625
00:32:37,756 --> 00:32:41,593
{\an7}WHEN I HAVE ALL THIS TIME,
\h\hALL THIS AIR AROUND ME.
626
00:32:41,626 --> 00:32:42,994
{\an7}\h\hSO I’M THINKING,
IF YOU SURVIVE THIS,
627
00:32:43,028 --> 00:32:46,932
{\an7}\h\hBY GOD, YOU’RE GONNA DEVELOP
SOME KIND OF A PARACHUTE SYSTEM.
628
00:32:46,965 --> 00:32:49,000
{\an7}Narrator: AS HE SPINS,
629
00:32:49,034 --> 00:32:53,639
{\an7}POPOV IS PINNED TO THE WRECKAGE
\h\h\hAND CANNOT FREE HIMSELF.
630
00:32:53,672 --> 00:32:55,607
{\an7}BUT HE HAS AN ADVANTAGE.
631
00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:59,878
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS A GYMNAST,
HE’S BEEN TRAINED HOW TO FALL.
632
00:32:59,911 --> 00:33:01,279
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPopov:
I GOT IN THAT TUCK POSITION
633
00:33:01,313 --> 00:33:02,681
{\an7}AND PREPARED FOR IMPACT.
634
00:33:10,455 --> 00:33:12,624
{\an7}KNOCKED A COUPLE FILLINGS
\h\h\h\hOUT OF MY TEETH,
635
00:33:12,657 --> 00:33:15,593
{\an7}BUT BASICALLY SWAM AWAY
\h\h\hAND WALKED AWAY.
636
00:33:15,627 --> 00:33:17,562
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
WITH A NEW LEASE ON LIFE,
637
00:33:17,596 --> 00:33:20,599
{\an7}\hPOPOV KEEPS GOOD
THE PROMISE HE MADE
638
00:33:20,632 --> 00:33:24,302
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO DESIGN
A NEW PARACHUTE SYSTEM.
639
00:33:24,336 --> 00:33:25,704
{\an7}ALTHOUGH THERE’S NOT ENOUGH TIME
640
00:33:25,737 --> 00:33:27,639
{\an7}\hTO FREE YOURSELF
FROM A HANG-GLIDER
641
00:33:27,672 --> 00:33:30,642
{\an7}AND DEPLOY A PERSONAL PARACHUTE,
642
00:33:30,675 --> 00:33:32,644
{\an7}\h\hPOPOV REALIZES
A LARGER PARACHUTE
643
00:33:32,677 --> 00:33:35,213
{\an7}\h\h\hCOULD BRING THE WHOLE
HANG-GLIDER AND PILOT DOWN
644
00:33:35,247 --> 00:33:37,483
{\an7}TOGETHER.
645
00:33:37,516 --> 00:33:39,785
{\an7}Popov: I WANTED TO
JUST GET IN THE AIR
646
00:33:39,818 --> 00:33:44,222
{\an7}\hAND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU
DEPLOY A PARACHUTE IN THE AIR.
647
00:33:44,256 --> 00:33:46,258
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR,
648
00:33:46,291 --> 00:33:49,494
{\an7}THE HANG-GLIDER PARACHUTE
\h\h\hSLOWLY TAKES SHAPE.
649
00:33:54,266 --> 00:33:56,802
{\an7}BUT POPOV DOESN’T STOP THERE.
650
00:34:00,572 --> 00:34:02,908
{\an7}HE WANTS TO SCALE IT UP
651
00:34:02,941 --> 00:34:06,611
{\an7}TO PROTECT AS MANY AVIATORS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAS POSSIBLE.
652
00:34:06,645 --> 00:34:11,917
{\an7}PARACHUTES FOR WHOLE PLANES.
653
00:34:11,950 --> 00:34:14,252
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hHE KNOWS THAT
IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY
654
00:34:14,286 --> 00:34:19,291
{\an7}AVIATORS ALREADY EXPERIMENTED
\hWITH PARACHUTES ON PLANES,
655
00:34:19,324 --> 00:34:23,929
{\an7}BUT THE MASSIVE CHUTES
TOOK UP TOO MUCH SPACE.
656
00:34:23,962 --> 00:34:24,996
{\an7}Popov: THEY WEIGHED A LOT,
657
00:34:25,030 --> 00:34:27,900
{\an7}\h\h\hTHEY WERE BIG,
THEY WERE CUMBERSOME.
658
00:34:27,933 --> 00:34:30,235
{\an7}\hNarrator: TO CONVINCE
PILOTS TO INSTALL THEM,
659
00:34:30,268 --> 00:34:32,971
{\an7}\h\h\h\hPOPOV MUST DESIGN
A FAR MORE COMPACT CHUTE
660
00:34:33,004 --> 00:34:36,941
{\an7}THAT STILL GIVES ENOUGH DRAG.
661
00:34:36,975 --> 00:34:41,146
{\an7}IT’S A HUGE UNDERTAKING.
662
00:34:41,179 --> 00:34:46,251
{\an7}AND THE FIRST TESTS
\h\hARE A DISASTER.
663
00:34:46,284 --> 00:34:48,887
{\an7}Popov: WHAT THE HELL?
664
00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:50,922
{\an7}THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
665
00:34:50,956 --> 00:34:54,092
{\an7}\hWAS BASICALLY GETTING
A LIGHT ENOUGH MATERIAL
666
00:34:54,125 --> 00:34:57,328
{\an7}TO MAKE THE PARACHUTE
\h\h\h\hSMALL ENOUGH.
667
00:34:57,362 --> 00:34:58,530
{\an7}Narrator: FOR INSPIRATION,
668
00:34:58,563 --> 00:35:01,933
{\an7}HE TURNS TO THE WORLD
OF SPORTS PARACHUTES.
669
00:35:01,967 --> 00:35:04,136
{\an7}\h\hFOR RAM-AIR CHUTES
TO WORK AT THEIR BEST,
670
00:35:04,169 --> 00:35:07,572
{\an7}\h\h\h\hFABRIC MANUFACTURERS
HAVE DEVELOPED A NEW MATERIAL
671
00:35:07,606 --> 00:35:11,777
{\an7}CALLED ZERO-POROSITY FABRIC.
672
00:35:11,810 --> 00:35:13,378
{\an7}ORDINARY PARACHUTE NYLON
673
00:35:13,411 --> 00:35:16,547
{\an7}ALLOWS SOME AIR TO PASS
\h\hBETWEEN THE FIBERS,
674
00:35:16,581 --> 00:35:19,050
{\an7}WHICH REDUCES THE DRAG.
675
00:35:19,084 --> 00:35:21,420
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT NYLON
WITH A SILICONE COATING
676
00:35:21,453 --> 00:35:24,089
{\an7}\h\hPREVENTS THE AIR
FROM PASSING THROUGH,
677
00:35:24,122 --> 00:35:28,360
{\an7}CREATING MORE DRAG.
678
00:35:28,393 --> 00:35:30,929
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT MEANS
A MUCH SMALLER PARACHUTE
679
00:35:30,962 --> 00:35:33,231
{\an7}CAN DO THE SAME JOB.
680
00:35:33,264 --> 00:35:34,532
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPopov:
USING ZERO-POROSITY MATERIAL
681
00:35:34,566 --> 00:35:37,602
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hPROBABLY DECREASES
THE SIZE OF A GIVEN PARACHUTE
682
00:35:37,636 --> 00:35:40,906
{\an7}WITH THE SAME GEOMETRY
\h\h\hAND SAME DESIGN,
683
00:35:40,939 --> 00:35:44,643
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hI WOULD GUESS
30, 40 PERCENT AT LEAST.
684
00:35:44,676 --> 00:35:47,546
{\an7}SO IT’S SIGNIFICANT.
685
00:35:47,579 --> 00:35:51,049
{\an7}\h\h\h\hNarrator: POPOV REFINES
HIS NEW ZERO-POROSITY PARACHUTE
686
00:35:51,082 --> 00:35:54,953
{\an7}UNTIL IT’S CERTIFIED FOR USE
\h\h\h\h\hIN LIGHT AIRCRAFT.
687
00:35:58,657 --> 00:36:01,193
{\an7}\h\h\h\hIN 2015,
LUE MORTON BOARDS
688
00:36:01,226 --> 00:36:04,963
{\an7}A PARACHUTE-EQUIPPED
\h\h\h\hCIRRUS PLANE.
689
00:36:04,996 --> 00:36:09,968
{\an7}\hA RED HANDLE ABOVE HIS HEAD
TRIGGERS THE EMERGENCY CHUTE.
690
00:36:10,001 --> 00:36:12,770
{\an7}WHEN HE RUNS OUT OF FUEL
\h\h\h\hABOVE ROUGH SEAS,
691
00:36:12,804 --> 00:36:14,105
{\an7}HE REACHES FOR IT.
692
00:36:17,075 --> 00:36:19,578
{\an7}\h\h\hMorton: YOU FEEL LIKE THIS
5-YEAR-OLD KID AT THE HIGH DIVE,
693
00:36:19,611 --> 00:36:20,879
{\an7}LIKE STANDING AT THE EDGE.
694
00:36:20,912 --> 00:36:22,747
{\an7}\hJUST LIKE, ALRIGHT,
WELL, NOW’S THE TIME,
695
00:36:22,781 --> 00:36:24,116
{\an7}YOU GOTTA MAKE THE JUMP."
696
00:36:28,286 --> 00:36:30,822
{\an7}THEY SERIOUSLY CALL ME
\h\h\h\hTHE NUMBER 104,
697
00:36:30,855 --> 00:36:33,124
{\an7}\h\h\h\hBECAUSE IT’S
THE 104th LIFE SAVED
698
00:36:33,158 --> 00:36:34,926
{\an7}FROM THAT PARACHUTE SYSTEM.
699
00:36:38,630 --> 00:36:42,434
{\an7}\h\h\h\hNarrator: AND THAT’S
IN THE CIRRUS AIRCRAFT ALONE.
700
00:36:42,467 --> 00:36:47,339
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN TOTAL,
OVER 300 LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED--
701
00:36:47,372 --> 00:36:50,842
{\an7}A NUMBER THAT BORIS POPOV
\h\h\h\hIS VERY PROUD OF.
702
00:36:50,875 --> 00:36:53,144
{\an7}Popov: IF YOU WERE TO ASK
ALL 324 OF THOSE PEOPLE,
703
00:36:53,178 --> 00:36:54,780
{\an7}\h\h\hDID YOU EVER THINK YOU WERE
REALLY GONNA USE THAT PARACHUTE?
704
00:36:54,813 --> 00:36:56,415
{\an7}THEY’D SAY OF COURSE NOT.
705
00:36:56,448 --> 00:36:57,549
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT WAS,
"MY WIFE MADE ME BUY IT,"
706
00:36:57,582 --> 00:36:59,317
{\an7}OR "I REALLY DIDN’T
THINK I NEEDED IT,
707
00:36:59,350 --> 00:37:00,551
{\an7}BUT THANK GOD I HAVE ONE,
708
00:37:00,585 --> 00:37:03,154
{\an7}AND I’LL NEVER FLY
WITHOUT ONE AGAIN."
709
00:37:03,188 --> 00:37:06,224
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator:
AS MATERIALS SCIENCE ADVANCES,
710
00:37:06,257 --> 00:37:09,127
{\an7}\hSOME IN THE INDUSTRY
EVEN BELIEVE JETLINERS
711
00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:13,064
{\an7}COULD ONE DAY BE FITTED
WITH THEIR OWN CHUTES.
712
00:37:13,098 --> 00:37:15,334
{\an7}Popov: SOMEBODY ONCE ASKED ME,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hCAN YOU DO A 747?
713
00:37:15,366 --> 00:37:16,601
{\an7}I SAID SURE.
714
00:37:16,634 --> 00:37:19,403
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHERE’S TECHNOLOGY
THAT’S LIKE ARTIFICIAL SILK
715
00:37:19,437 --> 00:37:22,540
{\an7}\h\h\hTHAT IS AMAZINGLY
STRONG AND LIGHTWEIGHT.
716
00:37:22,574 --> 00:37:24,276
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI SEE LIGHT
AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
717
00:37:24,309 --> 00:37:26,211
{\an7}WHEN IT COMES TO MATERIALS
718
00:37:26,244 --> 00:37:29,681
{\an7}THAT MIGHT MAKE AN EXTREMELY
LIGHTWEIGHT AND SMALL CANOPY.
719
00:37:29,714 --> 00:37:34,452
{\an7}AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS,
\hTHE SKY’S THE LIMIT.
720
00:37:34,486 --> 00:37:37,122
{\an7}\hNarrator: PARACHUTES HAVE
BROUGHT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
721
00:37:37,155 --> 00:37:39,524
{\an7}SAFELY TO EARTH.
722
00:37:39,557 --> 00:37:43,694
{\an7}THEY’VE EVEN ALLOWED US
\hTO RETURN FROM SPACE.
723
00:37:43,728 --> 00:37:46,831
{\an7}NOW THEY’RE HELPING US
\h\hREACH ALIEN WORLDS.
724
00:37:49,234 --> 00:37:51,169
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hMark Adler:
WE HAVE MARS MISSIONS,
725
00:37:51,202 --> 00:37:53,337
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hEXPLORING TITAN
WITH THE HUYGENS MISSION,
726
00:37:53,371 --> 00:37:55,139
{\an7}MOON OF SATURN.
727
00:37:55,173 --> 00:37:56,675
{\an7}WE HAVE VEHICLES
\hGOING TO VENUS.
728
00:37:59,010 --> 00:38:00,745
{\an7}THEY’VE ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE,
729
00:38:00,779 --> 00:38:04,383
{\an7}USED PARACHUTES FOR LANDING.
730
00:38:04,415 --> 00:38:07,551
{\an7}Narrator: SO FAR, ONLY ROBOTS
\h\h\hHAVE FLOWN UNDER CANOPY
731
00:38:07,585 --> 00:38:10,888
{\an7}IN EXTRATERRESTRIAL SKIES.
732
00:38:10,922 --> 00:38:16,561
{\an7}BUT PLANS ARE NOW UNDER WAY
\h\h\hFOR HUMANS TO FOLLOW.
733
00:38:16,594 --> 00:38:21,432
{\an7}\h\hPUTTING ASTRONAUTS ON MARS IS
THE NEXT GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.
734
00:38:25,870 --> 00:38:27,505
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAdler: IT’LL BE
ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES
735
00:38:27,539 --> 00:38:28,974
{\an7}HUMANS HAVE EVER FACED,
736
00:38:29,007 --> 00:38:31,910
{\an7}TO PUT PEOPLE ON MARS.
737
00:38:31,943 --> 00:38:35,346
{\an7}Narrator: A PAYLOAD MORE MASSIVE
THAN AN 18-WHEELER TRUCK
738
00:38:35,380 --> 00:38:38,316
{\an7}MUST BE SLOWED FROM SEVERAL
\hTIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND
739
00:38:38,349 --> 00:38:41,819
{\an7}TO A STANDSTILL.
740
00:38:41,853 --> 00:38:45,423
{\an7}AND THE AIR IS 100 TIMES
\hTHINNER THAN ON EARTH,
741
00:38:45,456 --> 00:38:49,393
{\an7}MAKING IT MUCH HARDER
\h\h\hTO DECELERATE.
742
00:38:49,427 --> 00:38:51,496
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hFORTUNATELY,
THEY HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE
743
00:38:51,529 --> 00:38:55,099
{\an7}OF LANDING HEAVY PAYLOADS THERE.
744
00:38:55,133 --> 00:38:57,802
{\an7}IN 2012, NASA’S CURIOSITY ROVER,
745
00:38:57,836 --> 00:38:59,504
{\an7}WHICH WEIGHS ALMOST A TON,
746
00:38:59,537 --> 00:39:01,506
{\an7}ARRIVES AT MARS.
747
00:39:03,875 --> 00:39:06,611
{\an7}Adam Steltzner: WHEN IT CAME
\h\h\hTIME TO LAND CURIOSITY,
748
00:39:06,644 --> 00:39:09,647
{\an7}THE BIGGEST VEHICLE WE’VE PUT
\h\h\hON THE SURFACE OF MARS,
749
00:39:09,681 --> 00:39:12,717
{\an7}WE NEEDED A VERY BIG PARACHUTE,
750
00:39:12,750 --> 00:39:16,687
{\an7}\hTHE WORLD’S LARGEST
SUPERSONIC PARACHUTE.
751
00:39:19,390 --> 00:39:22,059
{\an7}Narrator: THE 70-FOOT-WIDE
\h\h\hSUPERSONIC PARACHUTE
752
00:39:22,093 --> 00:39:25,063
{\an7}\h\h\h\hMUST SLOW IT DOWN
FROM 1,000 MILES PER HOUR
753
00:39:25,096 --> 00:39:27,532
{\an7}TO JUST 180.
754
00:39:27,565 --> 00:39:31,702
{\an7}\hAFTER THAT, RETROROCKETS WILL
BRING IT TO A NEAR STANDSTILL,
755
00:39:31,736 --> 00:39:36,574
{\an7}\hBEFORE THE ROVER IS LOWERED
TO THE GROUND BY A SKYCRANE.
756
00:39:36,608 --> 00:39:39,511
{\an7}BUT WILL IT WORK?
757
00:39:39,544 --> 00:39:44,215
{\an7}\h\h\hTHE MODULE ENTERS
THE MARTIAN ATMOSPHERE.
758
00:39:44,249 --> 00:39:45,350
{\an7}Man: WE’RE GOING ABOUT MACH 2.4
759
00:39:45,383 --> 00:39:48,119
{\an7}AT AN ALTITUDE OF 17...
760
00:39:48,152 --> 00:39:50,488
{\an7}\hWE ARE STANDING BY
FOR PARACHUTE DEPLOY.
761
00:39:50,521 --> 00:39:51,422
{\an7}Man: GEAR POSITION.
762
00:39:54,926 --> 00:39:56,928
{\an7}Man: PARACHUTE DEPLOYED.
763
00:39:56,961 --> 00:39:58,830
{\an7}[CHEERING]
764
00:39:58,863 --> 00:40:01,933
{\an7}Man: WE ARE DECELERATING.
765
00:40:01,966 --> 00:40:05,236
{\an7}DESCENDING AT ABOUT .75 METERS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPER SECOND...
766
00:40:05,270 --> 00:40:07,339
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hSteltzner:
ALL OF A SUDDEN...BOOM!
767
00:40:07,372 --> 00:40:08,340
{\an7}Man: TOUCHDOWN CONFIRMED.
768
00:40:08,373 --> 00:40:10,075
{\an7}WE’RE SAFE ON MARS.
769
00:40:10,108 --> 00:40:11,876
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hSteltzner:
WE’RE ON THE GROUND.
770
00:40:11,910 --> 00:40:15,514
{\an7}IT’S HAPPENED, AND IT’S OVER.
771
00:40:15,546 --> 00:40:17,782
{\an7}I’VE BEEN SORT OF RUNNING
\hA RACE FOR EIGHT YEARS,
772
00:40:17,815 --> 00:40:20,651
{\an7}AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I’M ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE FINISH LINE.
773
00:40:20,685 --> 00:40:23,321
{\an7}\h\hTHERE WAS SORT OF
A SENSE OF DISBELIEF.
774
00:40:23,354 --> 00:40:25,957
{\an7}Narrator: LANDING SUCH
\hA HEAVY CRAFT ON MARS
775
00:40:25,990 --> 00:40:30,094
{\an7}IS A TRIUMPH OF ENGINEERING.
776
00:40:30,128 --> 00:40:35,233
{\an7}HOWEVER, ANY HUMAN MISSION
WILL WEIGH MANY TIMES MORE,
777
00:40:35,266 --> 00:40:38,903
{\an7}WHICH INTRODUCES NEW CHALLENGES.
778
00:40:38,937 --> 00:40:42,107
{\an7}MARK ADLER IS MANAGING
\h\h\hTHE NASA PROJECT
779
00:40:42,140 --> 00:40:46,778
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO DEVELOP
THE NEXT GENERATION PARACHUTE.
780
00:40:46,811 --> 00:40:49,947
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAdler: NOW THAT WE WANT
TO LAND BIGGER THINGS ON MARS,
781
00:40:49,981 --> 00:40:51,683
{\an7}WE GOTTA MAKE BIGGER PARACHUTES,
782
00:40:51,716 --> 00:40:52,717
{\an7}AND WE HAVE TO TEST THEM
783
00:40:52,750 --> 00:40:56,654
{\an7}BECAUSE THE OLD TESTS
\h\h\h\hDON’T APPLY.
784
00:40:56,688 --> 00:40:58,990
{\an7}Narrator: AT 100 FEET ACROSS,
785
00:40:59,023 --> 00:41:03,094
{\an7}THIS IS THE BIGGEST SUPERSONIC
\h\h\h\h\hPARACHUTE EVER MADE.
786
00:41:03,127 --> 00:41:07,098
{\an7}IT’S ALSO ONE OF THE TOUGHEST.
787
00:41:07,131 --> 00:41:09,433
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAdler: ALL OF THIS
YELLOW STUFF HERE IS KEVLAR,
788
00:41:09,467 --> 00:41:10,935
{\an7}SAME STUFF THAT’S USED
IN BULLET-PROOF VESTS.
789
00:41:10,969 --> 00:41:12,904
{\an7}VERY, VERY STRONG MATERIAL.
790
00:41:12,937 --> 00:41:15,173
{\an7}Narrator: BEFORE IT CAN
\h\h\hBE USED ON MARS,
791
00:41:15,206 --> 00:41:18,476
{\an7}IT MUST BE TESTED FOR STRENGTH
792
00:41:18,509 --> 00:41:22,446
{\an7}\hAND FOR PERFORMANCE
AT SUPERSONIC SPEEDS.
793
00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:26,651
{\an7}\h\hBUT BECAUSE IT’S SO BIG,
IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO TEST.
794
00:41:26,684 --> 00:41:28,419
{\an7}Adler: THIS PARACHUTE
\hIS TOO BIG TO TEST
795
00:41:28,453 --> 00:41:32,857
{\an7}IN THE LARGEST WIND TUNNEL
\h\h\h\hAVAILABLE ON EARTH.
796
00:41:32,890 --> 00:41:38,896
{\an7}Narrator: MARK’S TEAM MUST FIND
\h\h\h\hANOTHER WAY TO TEST IT.
797
00:41:38,930 --> 00:41:41,199
{\an7}INSTEAD OF MOVING AIR
\hPAST THE PARACHUTE,
798
00:41:41,232 --> 00:41:42,800
{\an7}LIKE IN A WIND TUNNEL,
799
00:41:42,834 --> 00:41:46,771
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY DECIDE TO PULL
THE PARACHUTE THROUGH THE AIR,
800
00:41:46,804 --> 00:41:50,374
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hWITH A GIANT
ROCKET-PROPELLED SLED.
801
00:41:50,408 --> 00:41:54,178
{\an7}Steltzner: SOUNDS PRETTY CRAZY,
\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT KIND OF IS.
802
00:41:54,212 --> 00:41:56,548
{\an7}\h\h\h\hTHE HELICOPTER
LIFTS THE PARACHUTE UP,
803
00:41:56,581 --> 00:41:59,384
{\an7}IT LETS IT GO...
804
00:41:59,417 --> 00:42:01,486
{\an7}THEN WE LIGHT THE ROCKETS.
805
00:42:01,519 --> 00:42:05,423
{\an7}Narrator: A CABLE ATTACHES THE
\hROCKET SLED TO THE PARACHUTE,
806
00:42:05,456 --> 00:42:08,926
{\an7}PULLING IT TO EARTH.
807
00:42:08,960 --> 00:42:10,328
{\an7}Steltzner: THAT ALLOWS US TO PUT
808
00:42:10,361 --> 00:42:15,933
{\an7}HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS
\h\hOF FORCE ON THIS PARACHUTE.
809
00:42:15,967 --> 00:42:18,603
{\an7}Narrator: THE ROCKETS
\hPULL THE PARACHUTE
810
00:42:18,636 --> 00:42:26,577
{\an7}\hWITH MORE THAN 120,000 POUNDS
OF FORCE WHEN IT FINALLY RIPS.
811
00:42:26,611 --> 00:42:29,080
{\an7}BUT THE TEST HAS BEEN A SUCCESS.
812
00:42:29,113 --> 00:42:31,882
{\an7}[CHEERING]
813
00:42:31,916 --> 00:42:33,151
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hSteltzner:
THAT’S A LOT OF FORCE,
814
00:42:33,184 --> 00:42:39,023
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND ENOUGH FOR US TO USE
TO SLOW DOWN ON THE WAY TO MARS.
815
00:42:39,057 --> 00:42:42,827
{\an7}\h\hNarrator: THE PARACHUTE IS
STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE THE LOAD,
816
00:42:42,860 --> 00:42:46,397
{\an7}\h\hBUT IT’S NOT READY
FOR THE RED PLANET YET.
817
00:42:46,431 --> 00:42:49,801
{\an7}\hFIRST, THEY MUST SHOW IT CAN
OPERATE IN THE SAME CONDITIONS
818
00:42:49,834 --> 00:42:51,836
{\an7}IT WILL ENCOUNTER ON MARS.
819
00:42:54,972 --> 00:42:57,308
{\an7}IN JUNE 2015,
820
00:42:57,341 --> 00:43:01,312
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE READY FOR
A HIGH-ALTITUDE SUPERSONIC TEST.
821
00:43:01,345 --> 00:43:02,980
{\an7}AFTER A WEEK OF DELAYS,
822
00:43:03,014 --> 00:43:05,517
{\an7}CONDITIONS IN HAWAII
\h\h\h\hARE PERFECT.
823
00:43:05,550 --> 00:43:06,851
{\an7}Man: AND LAUNCH.
824
00:43:06,884 --> 00:43:08,018
{\an7}START LOOKING AT YOUR TELEMETRY,
825
00:43:08,052 --> 00:43:11,289
{\an7}AND MAKE SURE ALL SYSTEMS
\h\h\h\h\h\hARE HEALTHY.
826
00:43:11,322 --> 00:43:14,192
{\an7}\hNarrator: THE PARACHUTE IS
FITTED INSIDE A TEST VEHICLE
827
00:43:14,225 --> 00:43:18,930
{\an7}AND CARRIED UP TO 120,000 FEET
\h\h\h\h\h\hBY A GIANT BALLOON.
828
00:43:21,833 --> 00:43:24,436
{\an7}\h\hROCKETS REPLICATE
THE SUPERSONIC SPEED
829
00:43:24,469 --> 00:43:26,905
{\an7}\h\hOF A SPACECRAFT
ARRIVING AT MARS...
830
00:43:26,938 --> 00:43:28,706
{\an7}Man: ONE, DROP.
831
00:43:28,739 --> 00:43:30,507
{\an7}SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
832
00:43:30,541 --> 00:43:33,110
{\an7}Narrator: WHICH WILL CAUSE THE
\hPARACHUTE TO OPEN EXPLOSIVELY
833
00:43:33,144 --> 00:43:34,779
{\an7}AND ADD EXTRA STRESS.
834
00:43:34,812 --> 00:43:36,580
{\an7}Man: DVR’S RECORDING...
835
00:43:36,614 --> 00:43:40,918
{\an7}[CHEERING]
836
00:43:40,952 --> 00:43:44,956
{\an7}\hNarrator: THE TEST VEHICLE
CLIMBS ANOTHER 60,000 FEET--
837
00:43:44,989 --> 00:43:46,123
{\an7}Man: GOT STABLE FLIGHT.
838
00:43:46,157 --> 00:43:49,727
{\an7}Narrator: HALFWAY TO SPACE.
839
00:43:49,760 --> 00:43:53,230
{\an7}ONLY THERE IS THE AIR
\hAS THIN AS ON MARS.
840
00:43:55,566 --> 00:44:00,204
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\hAT MACH 2.4,
THE PARACHUTE DEPLOYS...
841
00:44:05,409 --> 00:44:08,312
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\hAND IS DESTROYED
IN A FRACTION OF A SECOND.
842
00:44:08,346 --> 00:44:10,615
{\an7}[PEOPLE GROAN]
843
00:44:10,648 --> 00:44:12,617
{\an7}Man: FLIGHT, THIS IS P.I.
\h\h\h\h\hPARTIAL CHUTE.
844
00:44:12,650 --> 00:44:14,452
{\an7}Man: COPY PARTIAL CHUTE.
845
00:44:14,485 --> 00:44:15,586
{\an7}Adler: AND WE’RE WATCHING,
846
00:44:15,620 --> 00:44:17,155
{\an7}\h\hAND VERY SHORTLY,
WITHIN HALF A SECOND,
847
00:44:17,188 --> 00:44:19,624
{\an7}WE SAW THE PARACHUTE JUST ALMOST
COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATE
848
00:44:19,657 --> 00:44:21,692
{\an7}AND TURN INTO CONFETTI.
849
00:44:21,726 --> 00:44:24,929
{\an7}\h\h\hNarrator: DESPITE
KEVLAR REINFORCEMENTS,
850
00:44:24,962 --> 00:44:27,064
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE PARACHUTE
CAN’T WITHSTAND THE STRESSES
851
00:44:27,098 --> 00:44:30,001
{\an7}OF SUPERSONIC FLIGHT.
852
00:44:30,034 --> 00:44:33,170
{\an7}BUT THE TEAM ARE NOT DETERRED.
853
00:44:33,204 --> 00:44:35,039
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAdler:
IF YOU DON’T HAVE FAILURES,
854
00:44:35,072 --> 00:44:36,640
{\an7}THEN YOU’RE NOT REALLY
\h\hPUSHING HARD ENOUGH
855
00:44:36,674 --> 00:44:38,075
{\an7}TO GET THE CAPABILITIES
\hTHAT WE’RE GONNA NEED
856
00:44:38,109 --> 00:44:41,245
{\an7}FOR OUR FUTURE MISSIONS TO MARS.
857
00:44:41,279 --> 00:44:43,681
{\an7}Narrator: EVEN THOUGH
THE PARACHUTE FAILED,
858
00:44:43,714 --> 00:44:47,017
{\an7}\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE TEST IS
IN MANY WAYS SUCCESSFUL.
859
00:44:47,051 --> 00:44:50,855
{\an7}IT REACHED THE CORRECT
\h\hALTITUDE AND SPEED,
860
00:44:50,888 --> 00:44:52,857
{\an7}\hWHICH MEANS DATA
FROM THE EXPERIMENT
861
00:44:52,890 --> 00:44:55,659
{\an7}\h\hWILL HELP THEM LEARN MORE
ABOUT SUPERSONIC PARACHUTES.
862
00:44:55,693 --> 00:44:57,094
{\an7}Man: 0.6 SECONDS.
863
00:44:57,128 --> 00:44:59,464
{\an7}SO IT’S THE FASTEST INFLATION
\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’VE EVER SEEN.
864
00:44:59,497 --> 00:45:00,832
{\an7}Ian Clark: I’M CONFIDENT
865
00:45:00,865 --> 00:45:03,067
{\an7}WE’VE GOT ANOTHER GREAT DATA SET
IN FRONT OF US
866
00:45:03,100 --> 00:45:04,602
{\an7}\h\hTHAT WILL HELP US
UNDERSTAND EVEN MORE
867
00:45:04,635 --> 00:45:06,103
{\an7}\hABOUT THE NATURE
OF THESE PARACHUTES
868
00:45:06,137 --> 00:45:08,973
{\an7}\h\h\h\hAND HELP US DESIGN
PARACHUTES FOR THE FUTURE.
869
00:45:09,006 --> 00:45:11,609
{\an7}Narrator: ALTHOUGH THE CHUTE
\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDIDN’T SURVIVE,
870
00:45:11,642 --> 00:45:14,678
{\an7}THE TEST HAS BROUGHT NASA
\h\h\h\hCLOSER THAN EVER
871
00:45:14,712 --> 00:45:17,815
{\an7}TO PUTTING ASTRONAUTS ON MARS.
872
00:45:17,848 --> 00:45:22,753
{\an7}PARACHUTES HAVE COME A LONG WAY
SINCE DA VINCI’S FIRST DESIGN--
873
00:45:22,787 --> 00:45:24,856
{\an7}FROM A SIMPLE DRAG DEVICE
874
00:45:24,889 --> 00:45:27,692
{\an7}TO A NYLON WING...
875
00:45:27,725 --> 00:45:29,360
{\an7}FROM PEOPLE...
876
00:45:29,393 --> 00:45:30,861
{\an7}TO PLANES.
877
00:45:33,531 --> 00:45:37,735
{\an7}\h\h\hBUT THE GREATEST CHALLENGE
FOR PARACHUTES IS STILL TO COME.
878
00:45:41,672 --> 00:45:44,175
{\an7}Clark: MARS IS VERY FAR AWAY.
879
00:45:44,208 --> 00:45:45,576
{\an7}THE STEPS THAT WE’RE TAKING NOW,
880
00:45:45,610 --> 00:45:47,112
{\an7}\h\hTHEY ARE STEPS
THAT WE ARE TAKING
881
00:45:47,144 --> 00:45:49,513
{\an7}\h\hIN THE DIRECTION OF GETTING
HUMANS TO THE SURFACE OF MARS.
882
00:45:55,920 --> 00:45:58,122
{\an7}Man: WE FOUND A NICE FLAT PLACE
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR COMING IN.