The new EPC-B parachute was used for the first time by instructors at the Altenstadt airborne/air transport school. The test of the new system was successful.
Initial testing of the parachute was delayed due to delivery difficulties. In addition, delays in certification slowed the process even further. The new parachute is a Belgian make. The name EPC-B is a French acronym. It stands for Ensemble de Parachutage du Combattant.
The goal of the testing was to test the behavior of the parachute during the jump and opening process. For this purpose, the instructors of the school in Altenstadt made several approaches. First, a test run was made with a dummy. This procedure served to practice the airdrop process. In the subsequent first manned approach, the jumpers had different weights. In a second aircraft, a total of six soldiers flew. They jumped in an approach in quick succession. This arrangement simulates the usual jump mode in the German Armed Forces.
The new EPC-B is to replace the Bundeswehr’s decades-old T-10 parachute piece by piece, starting immediately. The new system has a number of advantages. It is easier to control and can be braked before landing. In addition, the descent rate is generally lower than that of the T-10 model, which reduces the risk of injury when jumping with automatic round canopy parachutes, as used by the airborne troops in the past.
