Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

CIA: Flying Skyhook Wasn't Just For James Bond, It Actually Rescued Agents

Posted by samzenpus on from the you're-outta-here dept.

coondoggie writes "This had to be one hell of a ride. The CIA today said it added a pretty cool item to its museum archives — the instruction card for officers being plucked off the ground by a contraption that would allow a person to be snatched off the ground by a flying aircraft without the plane actually landing."

8 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. It's in the Archive so now they use... by NinjaTekNeeks · · Score: 4, Funny

    Teleporter's most likely. Always wondered what you could come up with with an unlimited budget, now we know.

    1. Re:It's in the Archive so now they use... by Sez+Zero · · Score: 4, Funny
      Here's the CIA link I thought this was funny, regarding the development of the system:

      The first live test, with a sheep, failed when the harness twisted and strangled the animal. On subsequent tests other sheep fared better.

      Yes, hard to believe a subsequent test where sheep fared worse, but I'm sure slashdot will oblige.

    2. Re:It's in the Archive so now they use... by KrackerJax · · Score: 5, Funny

      Also from the CIA article:

      "Fulton first used instrumented dummies as he prepared for a live pickup. He next used a pig, as pigs have nervous systems close to humans. Lifted off the ground, the pig began to spin as it flew through the air at 125 mph. It arrived on board undamaged but in a disoriented state. Once it recovered, it attacked the crew."

      Too funny, I can only imagine what a berserker pig in an aircraft is like.

      --
      Sauer
    3. Re:It's in the Archive so now they use... by Jeng · · Score: 4, Funny

      You might be a computer if you only can only process information that is properly formatted and improperly formatted information gives you a segfault.

      --
      Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
    4. Re:It's in the Archive so now they use... by Darth_brooks · · Score: 4, Funny

      especially one inside the confines of an aircraft. I can only imagine how the ground crew and engineers were treated upon landing.

      (Bay door opens)

      Engineer: So how'd it.....(several angry loadmasters exit with torn flight suits and reeking of pig shit).....nevermind. So, uhhhh, pork chops for dinner tonight?

      Loadmaster: Pork chops for dinner tonight.

      --
      There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
    5. Re:It's in the Archive so now they use... by robot256 · · Score: 3, Funny

      I think it gave him an "itsyourfault".

  2. Re:Necessity is the mother of invention by MyLongNickName · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why would I believe it existed just because I saw it in a movie? i can't say I gave it a lot of thought, but I generally don't go "Gosh, I saw it in a james Bond movie, it must exist in real lifte."

    --
    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  3. Re:Is this a surprise? by Klinky · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is a great quote from the wiki:

    "Fulton first used instrumented dummies as he prepared for a live pickup. He next used a pig, as pigs have nervous systems close to humans. Lifted off the ground, the pig began to spin as it flew through the air at 125 mph (200 km/h). It arrived on board uninjured but in a disoriented state. Once it recovered, it attacked the crew."