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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."

3 of 123 comments (clear)

  1. simpler system used 50+ years ago by rubycodez · · Score: 5, Interesting

    prop plane flying in special circles could keep a weight at end of winchable cable relatively stationary to ground. this method was used to take and deliver mail at remote locations, and at stunt shows to pick up and leave a stuntman.

    1. Re:simpler system used 50+ years ago by rubycodez · · Score: 3, Interesting

      video of the "bucket drop"

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRZAwERwHVA

  2. Re:The Unit... by amicusNYCL · · Score: 4, Interesting

    He even described it accurately:

    Lucius Fox: Now for high altitude jumps you're gonna need oxygen and stabilizers. Now I must say compared to your usual requests, jumping out of an airplane is pretty straightforward.
    Bruce Wayne: And what about getting back into the plane?
    Lucius Fox: I'd recommend a good travel agent.
    Bruce Wayne: Without it landing.
    Lucius Fox: Now that's more like it, Mr. Wayne. The CIA had a program back in the 60's for getting their people out of hot spots called Sky Hook. We could look into that.

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