This has been a very interesting discussion. To look at another site's history, in 1970 the Albuquerque Soaring Club moved to Moriarty, NM. Since that time there has been one reported glider lightning strike and that happened to Ken Sorenson during the US Standard Class Nationals at Moriarty on July 11, 1996. Fortunately, although the canopy blew out and the ship's electronics were fried, Ken managed to safely land at Estancia, NM.

Regarding the use of parachutes at Moriarty, over the past 45 years, there has only been one recorded use of an emergency chute and that event occurred in 2012 due to an in-flight emergency. Despite being injured, the pilot survived and was able to walk out of the remote area.

Over the past 45 years the Moriarty, New Mexico Municipal Airport has been a very active soaring site and today there are perhaps 40 gliders flown on a fairly frequent basis by both Albuquerque Soaring Club members and folks who fly with Sundance Aviation (the Moriarty based glider FBO). During those 45 years there have been literally thousands of glider fights out of Moriarty.

New Mexico is also well known for its many thunderstorms and the associated lightning which is very common during the summer monsoon season. This active period usually begins in late-June/early July and normally ends in mid-September.

So, what can we learn here? As others have stated, lightning strikes are rare and the need for using an emergency parachute is also pretty rare, but as someone quite wise once told me.....

"It is better to have a parachute and not need it than to need a parachute and not have it...."

Thx - Renny