Airborne Systems Timeline

A HISTORY OF SERVICE AND MILESTONES

2015
2015

2015

Blue Origin successful first flight.

2014
2014

2014

NASA Orion EFT-1 successful flight thru the Van Allen radiation belt.

2012
2012

2012

IRVE-3 successful inflatable heat shield test.

2012
2012

2012

Boeing CST-100 successful drop test.

2012
2012

2012

Space X – Dragon spacecraft recovery from first commercial flight docking on international station.

2011
2011

2011

U.S. Army selects the Intruder® system to replace the legacy MC-4/MC-5.

2010
2010

2010

10,000th unit produced of the T-11 systems replacing the U.S. Army legacy T-10.

2008

2008

Airborne Systems successfully tests the “GigaFly”, setting the world record for the largest ramair canopy carrying the heaviest weight ever flown (40,000 lb).

2007
2007

2007

U.S. Army Selects Airborne Systems DragonFly® and FireFly® Systems for Self-Guided Parachutes.

2006
2006

2006

Airborne Systems competed and won the design competition for the MC-6 as the replacement for MC-1 for the U.S. Army. Airborne Systems was one of four suppliers awarded a 5 year IDIQ contract in 2006 for the MC-6.

2006

2006

Irvin awarded development of parachute program for NASA Orion spacecraft replacing the space shuttle in 2010.

2005

2005

Space X — Irvin develops the parachute recovery system for first stage recovery of Falcon I commercial launch vehicle for low cost transport of satellites to low earth orbit.

2003

2003

NASA Pad Abort Demonstrator program flies 4,156 ft diameter Ringsail cluster — recovery system test, demonstrating technology for a future manned spacecraft crew.

1999
1999

1999

F-22 development aircraft successfully conducts flight tests with Irvin’s self-monitoring, pilot-actuated Spin/Stall Parachute Recovery System.

1998
1998

1998

World-record largest parachute cluster flight for the Kistler K-1 development using six 156 ft ringsail parachutes.

1996
1996

1996

Irvin designs and tests a cluster of 3 Ringsail parachutes to recover the Boeing EELV concept’s 20,000 lb propulsion module demonstrating the technology to successfully return the first stage rocket engine to a water landing for subsequent recovery, refurbishment and re-use.

1991
1991

1991

Space Shuttle Endeavor successfully lands using an Irvin brake-parachute.

1978

1978

Irvin flight termination & mid-air recovery system is used on the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM).

1976
1976

1976

Irvin develops and qualifies parachute system for the NASA Pioneer Venus program.

1976

1976

Goodyear, in collaboration with Irvin, uses a parachute decelerator system to safely land the Viking spacecraft on Mars.

1965

1965

Irvin’s first mortar deployed Spin/Stall Parachute Recovery System is used on DC9 development aircraft.

1963
1963

1963

Landing brake-parachute is developed by Irvin for SR-71.

1960

1960

First aerial recovery of a space capsule launched from an orbiting satellite (Discoverer 13) uses an Irvin parachute recovery system.

1951
1951

1951

Martin-Baker, in collaboration with Irvin, develops the first autonomous pilot seat ejection system.

1940
1940

1940

Irvin and GQ collaborate to produce the X-type Paratroop Parachute Assembly. This assembly, is used throughout WWII and for 20 years beyond.

1922
1922

1922

Leslie Irvin forms the “Caterpillar Club” for airmen saved by a parachute.

1919
1919

1919

Leslie Irvin makes the first free fall parachute descent; the Irving Airchute Company is formed in Buffalo, NY.