I "write here on rec.aviation" only because I wear a parachute....
if I didn't wear a parachute I wouldn't be here to write this....
tim "a certified member of the caterpillar club"
Please visit the Wings & Wheels website at www.wingsandwheels.com

"Cats" wrote in message
...
On Mar 17, 4:23 am, fredsez wrote:
Maybe I don't know, but from more than 60 years of soaring and powered
flight, from my own eyeballs, and numerous written reports I have
concluded that parachutes will alter behavior. How many injury
accidents and fatals have been recorded that have the factor
"Parachute worn" or no "parachute worn".

If I choose to wear a parachute it is because I intend to test the
flight characteristics to the limit in an untested aircraft. Without
the chute I would not make the flight. My behavior is altered.

If I wear a chute in a contest, it may, but I doubt that it would
alter my behavior.

If I do low altitude aerobatic, or high speed...really high speed
passes would I really think a chute would help if things go wrong?

Would I fly closer to other gliders in a thermal because I was wearing
a chute?

Would I buzz a Boy Scout troop on a mountain top if I was not wearing
a chute?

Most of my 30,000 flights in airplanes and gliders were without
chutes. In some of the flights with chute, When I really wanted to use
the chute, I did not dare because I was too low. I had to make the
best of a bad situation and land. I have never made a landing that
caused more than a ding.

Fly safely, keep your mind on the task ahead, don't overload your
mind, don't depend on your chute to save your life when things go
badly or unexpectedly.

Wear a chute when required or when desired. but do not alter your
behavior because you feel safer with it on your back. Fred


If I don't wear a parachute my feet won't reach the rudder pedals.
For people that always wear one I doubt they alter behaviour much
because they become something we don't think much about - we keep them
dry,get them repacked from time to time, put them on with care, but
for most of us actually having to use one is one of our nightmares.