1) GI Joe character 2) Fictional aviator 3) Fictional corporal 
• A cord by which the gas bag of a balloon may be ripped open for a limited distance to release the gas quickly and so cause immediate descent.
The deployment system on all reserves and most student parachutes. The ripcord is a piece of cable with a handle at one end and a pin at the other. When pulled, the pin comes out of the closing loop holding the container shut, and the pilot chute is released
Rip cord (Aëronautics) A cord by which the gas bag of a balloon may be ripped open for a limited distance to release the gas quickly and so cause immediate descent. 
A manually operated device which withdraws a parachute from its pack.