The 'Chute Popper

Nothing is more frustrating to a combat soldier in Viet Nam--or in any other war zone for that matter--than the sight of his air-dropped supplies swinging from a parachute that is drifting inexorably behind enemy lines. Soon, however, the frustrated foot slogger may be able to do more about such situations than simply watch and curse.

He will sight in on the supply pack as it is shoved from a cargo plane and drops into a fast-accelerating dive. When the pack is between 1,000 and 500 ft. from the ground and over friendly territory, the tracker on the ground will turn on a small "'chute popper" attached to his belt, and send a coded signal to a receiver strapped to the falling supply 'chute. The signal will fire a cartridge that will cause the parachute to explode into a billowing mushroom, allowing it to drift safely to earth near the target area. If the man on the ground sees that a supply drop is so far off target that it might fall into enemy hands, he will not pop the parachute. The supplies, their free fall unchecked, will smash to destruction on the ground.

California's Canoga Electronics Corp., which designed the 'chute popper now being tested by the Air Force, is already working on a new wrinkle that will enable friendly forces operating in dense jungle to locate equipment that is hidden from view even though it has been dropped essentially on target. Upon landing, the popper will transmit a signal on a secret frequency to ground troops with receivers designed to home in on their badly needed supplies.

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