On 14 Sep, 19:43, "bumper" wrote:
Ian,

Just a couple of years ago, a friend of mine told me he didn't use a chute
as he had back problems. I invited him to sit in my glider and see how
comfortable a well fitted chute could be (I've added Confor lumbar padding a
sheepskin so it really is comfy.).

He didn't take me up on the offer, but asked if I used a parachute in my
certified Mooney. When I answered, "No", he said, "There - - same thing, my
glider is certified too. If I have a problem I'll ride it down."

He was dead two month later, not a mid-air, but the wings came of the ship
and . . . he rode it down.

If the wings had come off 1000 feet above ground he'd have been dead
even with a parachute. "Making sure the wings don't come off" (why did
they?) seems to me a much more all-encompassing precaution than "Doing
something which increases my chances of survival a bit if the wings
come off at the right time"

Your comment reminds me of the people who refuse to wear seat belts, saying
that if they do have and accident, they'd rather be "thrown clear" so as to
avoid the wreckage. No offense, but that makes about as much sense.

And as much sense as people who don't wear parachutes in a certified
Mooney? Seriously, why not?

Ian