"John Keeney" wrote:

Don't forget that besides the ten foot fall the dropped cargo is
moving forward at the same speed as the C-130. You'll need a
big net to catch it before it zooms off the end of the deck.
The plane could stop because it could use its brakes and reverse
thrust.

Yes, I had not fully considered this aspect - with higher altitude
parachute drops the cargo loses most of the aircraft imparted forward
velocity by the time it lands.

I took a look at some LAPES links
http://www.parachutehistory.com/military/lapes.html
http://www.edwards.af.mil/moments/do.../94-05-03.html

I wonder how slowly a laden C130 could fly yet still generate enough
force from the parachutes to pull out the cargo and ensure predictable
placement. How about a C17?

Jay