Simula's Thin Pack Parachute to be adopted by USAF and RNAF

At the Farnborough Air Show Simula, Inc announced that it has been awarded two contracts for its patented emergency bailout parachute systems, marketed as the Thin Pack Parachute and Durachute(R).

The first contract was awarded by the US Air Force Air Mobility Command (AMC) for development of a system variant for heavy-lift transport aircraft. The development contract is valued at $1.1 million. The Company said that, as customary, it expects the initial development contract will lead to near-term production awards. The new USAF Thin Pack design could potentially replace up to 9,500 emergency bailout parachutes in the heavy-lift fleet. The Company said that the USAF represents a significant new customer. Thin Pack Parachute sales to date have been primarily to the US Navy.

The second contract was awarded by the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNAF) for Durachute(R) emergency bailout parachutes to be used by aircrew on board the RNAF's personnel transport aircraft. The RNAF order represents the completion of a world-wide competition for the next-generation parachute system. The value of the direct-sale contract to the RNAF contract was not disclosed. The RNAF contract is the Company's first material international sale of its parachute systems.

The Company said that the awards are important indicators of its expanding new customer base and its expectation that the USAF and RNAF sales will bring significant visibility to this product in international markets.

The products are variants of Simula's lightweight, environmentally sealed parachute system, which has a variety of proprietary features. One feature is a vacuum-sealed envelope that encloses the parachute canopy to protect it from physical and environmental hazards. The environmental sealing of the canopy greatly reduces the need for inspection and re-packing, thus lowering the cost of ownership and service to the customer. The parachute system also includes a personnel harness assembly that provides a quick-donning "one-size-fits-all" capability to accommodate the entire male and female aircrew size range. The Thin Pack Parachute has been developed and qualified to US Navy specifications.

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