This parachute is made out of a cotton like material, colour khaki. It has risers made from a natural fibre that has a soft texture. Riser diameter is about 5mm. The top circular hole is about 76 cm diameter. That hole has 24 short cross cords - 5mm cord. The parachute diameter, when laid out is about 6.1 metres.air drop supplies, parachute, equipment

The message reads= "To O.C. Ba77oms from Q NR ALJ Date 3 "We are about to drop you quinine/books/tobacco. To indicate where you want items dropped, place a cross (in a circle) made from any handy material such as towels etc. The aircraft will fire a red very light and the drop supplies on next dive where you indicate. Stand clear when A/C dives in - and don't be long making cross - Good Luck - 3 Blindies in AU. Aircraft will be watching you - so indicate (fallen position as best you can). Written by (Signature) ACDO. Time of origin 1700/L1. Two calico ribbons. Each ribbon has 3 colours, black, white, red. The ribbons are of equal length. Width 9.5 cms. They terminate at a small canvas pocket with 2 brass press studs. 2. Piece of mild steel, rounded ends. 3. Message paper. Light brown colour of strong quality. Message form with boxes to write words in, to and from lines at top.Stamped on flap is a broad arrow with indecipherable numbers. Stamped on back is IH. G.R.I.D. 1918.ww2, messages, air drop

The successful dropping of supplies to remote fire crews involved a great deal of experimentation. The result was a large heavy-duty cardboard container being developed in 1964 by Athol Hodgson from the FCV Fire Research Branch which employed fold-out wings and was called the “helibox”. It was suitable for supplies weighing less than 9 kg and best dropped from about 300 feet and became a standard technique. It was adopted Australia wide, but the wider availability of helicopters made the helibox eventually redundant.Unique to Victoria but adopted across Australia.Large cardboard box with "wings" to cause it to rotate when dropped from the air. With cut away sections to show how contents were packed Wings held in place by means of string office "Ty-Tite" fasteners.forests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire aviation, bushfire, camping equipment