This page explores moments from the edge of history In the late 1930s, airborne forces were still new, and aircraft were not designed for parachute jumps. Many Soviet transport planes had no side doors or rear ramps, so paratroopers had to adapt. To deploy, they climbed out of the fuselage and moved onto the wings while the aircraft was in flight. Once positioned on the wing, they jumped directly into open air using simple round parachutes with very limited control. Wind blast, engine wash, and