Hello ya'll.

After reading everyone's thoughts on the pros and cons of a helicopter dropping off our parachutist, something still rubbed me wrong. Especially our ploop splash just off the coast. After re-watching the scene about 5 times, I cannot see anything really "hit" the water.
Now I fully agree that we hear something having mechanical difficulty above our boys. It might indeed end up being a helicopter of some sort. Granted there are helicopters that can reach ceilings of 30,000 ft. But considering the Widmore's unlimited resources and military implications, I have to believe they would drop "the parachutist" off a high altitude jet instead. I'll return to my opinion on what that noise is later...

Personally, I believe most people haven't thought of this since it's still a relatively "secret" insertion device used by over 40 countries for HALO drops. I don't know how to copy and paste a picture of the device in this post, so please just click on this link for a picture of a civilian version.

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20060531/esg-personal-flying-wings/

Those of you who saw that unfortunate James Bond movie "Die Another Day" might remember James riding on this type of personal jet glider down until he is under radar detection. Exactly as military special forces are trained to do. You then "eject" from the jet wing and parachute down at the last possible moment to avoid detection.

The ploop splash we see would coincide with something weighing this much, and being slightly larger than a human being. If a helicopter with any sort of mid to long distance range crashed just off the coast in FULL view of our heroes and our eyes, it would make a huge crash. This jet glider would not. This is the only likely explanation of what "the parachutist" rode down on and yet would create such an small water splash. Plus, her gear and air mask coincide with what HALO jumpers wear to breathe from high altitude jumps off planes.

Now as for the sound of mechanical trouble/disturbance... what if that is the noise our island's shield/snowglobe/defense/barrier/whatever you wanna call it makes when objects permeate through the shield. And I think the island shield is still up after the discharge. We have never seen an object enter the island shield and be able to hear it simultaneously. I know we've all seen flight 815 break apart over Otherville a bunch of times, but did we witness flight 815 breaking through the shield/barrier? I believe we have not. We always catch 815 already shearing apart with the current library of shots available to us. What is the noise when objects enter the shield perimeter... hmm?

Another thing that perked my ears is when Hurley makes a point to say, "uhh, is that how a helicopter's supposed to sound?" I take that as a hint from TPTB that it is not a helicopter we're hearing more than Hurley simply commenting that he thinks it's a helicopter having trouble.

Ofcourse, when we see Penny talking to her fleet of Widmore helicopters looking for Des in the season finale, I'll eat the egg on my face.


In my opinion though, I see Penny as Vader in TESB, sending out probe droids all over the galaxy looking for the rebels. Our parachutist is nothing more than that.

Rip it apart ladies and gent's!

-Vince

As for the Island's defense barrier sounding like a helicopter, I doubt that. There are certain military helicopters that you can eject from.

As for what Hurley said, I think he was merely stating that the helicopter sounded distressed.

Great post!
Definitely something to think about.

If a helicopter, I would imagine the distance as greater from the beach to account for the small sound and wouldn't jive with where the parachute landed. Your theory makes much more sense.

Haven't TPTB said that we need to pay more attentio to what people say?

Nice thoughts.

Darn, couldn't get the link to work. I agree the plop in the ocean didn't seem big enough for a whole helicopter. But I think it was some kind of helicopter type craft. I don't think the force field (if there is one) sounds like that. JMO.

That would be really cool if it were true, another poster in another thread said that there are Powered flying wings like that under development that could sound like a helicopter.

Really nice post, Darthtooky. I was thinking that the whole mask thing meant that this person meant to fall from a VERY great distance away from the surface. That splash was weak, and I don't think it was a helicopter, whatever it was. ESP since I just watched the bonus DVD from season 2, and the producers said they wanted the hatch and Dharma equipment to look like Disneyland's original Tomorrowland, which, when originally opened in the 50s had a flying man with either an inspector gadget type helicopter (I bet Sawyer uses this reference in the next ep or so) or jet pack. Ok. It's a stretch.

Great post!
Definitely something to think about.

If a helicopter, I would imagine the distance as greater from the beach to account for the small sound and wouldn't jive with where the parachute landed. Your theory makes much more sense.

Haven't TPTB said that we need to pay more attentio to what people say?

Nice thoughts.

When did they say that?

TK-421 do you copy?

lol, i always wanted to say that...

Yeah, the device the military uses is called a Ram-Air wing. The picture on the link is almost identical to the military grade model I would imagine Penny Widmore would have access to. If you go and listen again, you can hear a distinct jet noise start up during the "helicopter" noises.

The ejection happened above the clouds, and they were lookup up at an angle that would put the splash-down WAY out in the water. I wouldn't expect more than a small splash even from a large helicopter from that distance. There's no inconsistancy between that, and the parachutist landing well into the jungle. Again, we could see that the ejection (assuming as I do that it WAS an ejection) was above cloud level.

TK-421 do you copy?

lol, i always wanted to say that...

Yeah, the device the military uses is called a Ram-Air wing. The picture on the link is almost identical to the military grade model I would imagine Penny Widmore would have access to. If you go and listen again, you can hear a distinct jet noise start up during the "helicopter" noises.

Great post. Definitely something to think about....Cool device.

And.....The only time they ever call a storm trooper by its name.

Haha thanks for noticing!
Yeah I picked my name for online gaming a while ago, but it was a flawed plan because people would say "TK 421 why aren't you at your post?" and the logical response is to tap the side of your head and shrug, which doesn't translate well over a microphone :)

Oh, and didn't some base-jumping guy also glide the english channel in a personal wing contraption recently too?

The other thing I'm wondering about is the effect of piercing the island's bubble on the pilot? She seemed barely alive, do you think that would be from a rough parachute landing in the trees, or was the last bit "kind of intense" as Ethan said about the trip to the island?

Yeah 421, the "kind of intense" comment rang through my noggin too when I saw "the parachutist" unconscious. She still had her oxygen mask attached, so I don't think she passed out from a lack of air.

Either the original "jump" vehicle was damaged while entering the island bubble, or her Ram-Air wing itself malfunctioned.

Maybe it is another sonic fence type thing, but in the air. My other thought was that they needed to use some type of tool to break through the snow globe barrier. Maybe you can walk on this barrier and you have to some how break through.

Very good. I am going to re watch tonight and pay close attention

Perhaps she wore the mask not because of a high altitude jump, but as a precaution? Perhaps intelligence was gathered about the island and its inhabitants and the oxygen mask was worn just in case there was some sort of infectious virus or "sickness" on the island.

Excellent post

Great post. I am definitely of the mindset that the noise was related to some air based security device. There is a security system on land. (the fence). while we haven't seen it there appears to be a security system at sea (the need to access the island via sub), so why not have a system in the air.

Now let's assume such a system exists. Is it possible that that is what caused the Flight 814 to split in two and crash. The flight was off course and the pilots didn't realize they had flown into a no fly zone. The plane gets zapped and breaks up.

Great post. I am definitely of the mindset that the noise was related to some air based security device. There is a security system on land. (the fence). while we haven't seen it there appears to be a security system at sea (the need to access the island via sub), so why not have a system in the air.

I agree. I think that the girl came from a plane. I think she was rigged for a high-altitude jump (I'm basing this on Rambo by the way) - if so, it couldn't be a helicopter she came in on.

At least we won't have to wait long for the answer.

At least we won't have to wait long for the answer.

Unless of course she is unconscious for the entire episode next week while the Losties debate her origin, and then in the final 2 minutes she wakes up to deliver Desmond's "message" :biggrin:

Unless of course she is unconscious for the entire episode next week while the Losties debate her origin, and then in the final 2 minutes she wakes up to deliver Desmond's "message" :biggrin:

Let's hope not. As it is, the Man From Tallahasse is still waiting in the box, the 4 toed foot still on the beach, the pirate ship is still full of dynamite...

Let's not add another big fat question mark to the already substantial list....

This was a HALO (high altitude low opening) jump that required oxygen. What splashed in the ocean is another matter. I didn't see any oxygen tanks on the parachutists so she could have ejected the oxygen tanks and para-sailed onto the island. The entire parachute, jumpsuit, etc is used in black op's.

NOT A SPOILER = I am thinking the prelude to an invasion of the island.

I just KNEW that someday we'd see a connection between Lost and James Bond! Or is it Batman - hard to tell... I mean, maybe the parachutist is Bat Girl! Woo Hoo! Watch out Ben, she's comin' fer ya!