Egress from 1-26

I'm thinking of buying a parachute for using in a 1-26. I was not able to find any instance of bailout from a 1-26 in the NTSB database. is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight? Can the 1-26 canopy be ejected?

I know that almost anyone who flies a 1-26 does so without wearing a parachute, so I don't want to discuss the relative merits of having one available (I obviously think wearing a parachute is always a good idea). Just who practical is it.

Any pilot who flies 1-26s wearing parachutes?

Thanks!!!!

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:22:56 AM UTC-4, KAIO wrote:
I'm thinking of buying a parachute for using in a 1-26. I was not able to find any instance of bailout from a 1-26 in the NTSB database. is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight? Can the 1-26 canopy be ejected?

I know that almost anyone who flies a 1-26 does so without wearing a parachute, so I don't want to discuss the relative merits of having one available (I obviously think wearing a parachute is always a good idea). Just who practical is it.

Any pilot who flies 1-26s wearing parachutes?

Thanks!!!!

Canopy ejection involves removing the two hing pins. If well maintained and installed correctly they "should" come out easy. (I've never tried it in flight.)

Most 1-26 canopies have a lanyard line to keep the canopy from opening too far when getting in or out.
An ejected canopy attached by such a lanyard could stay attached and present a serious problem.
I use a carabiner clip on my lanyard for a quick disconnect - but only for removing the canopy on the ground.

I do not wear a parachute in a 1-26.

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 11:26:20 AM UTC-4, Clif McVay wrote:
On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:22:56 AM UTC-4, KAIO wrote:
I'm thinking of buying a parachute for using in a 1-26. I was not able to find any instance of bailout from a 1-26 in the NTSB database. is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight? Can the 1-26 canopy be ejected?

I know that almost anyone who flies a 1-26 does so without wearing a parachute, so I don't want to discuss the relative merits of having one available (I obviously think wearing a parachute is always a good idea). Just who practical is it.

Any pilot who flies 1-26s wearing parachutes?

Thanks!!!!

Canopy ejection involves removing the two hing pins. If well maintained and installed correctly they "should" come out easy. (I've never tried it in flight.)

Most 1-26 canopies have a lanyard line to keep the canopy from opening too far when getting in or out.
An ejected canopy attached by such a lanyard could stay attached and present a serious problem.
I use a carabiner clip on my lanyard for a quick disconnect - but only for removing the canopy on the ground.

I do not wear a parachute in a 1-26.

Thanks. I figure that the loops at the end of the hinges could be used to eject the canopy. The issue is that, as you point out, there are other points of attachment: the canopy latch and the strong lanyard. Since those three items securing the canopy will need to be pulled in sequence, the chances of doing so successfully are very low.

Thanks again for your help.

Regarding bailing out of a 1-26, many years ago, one of our club founders, Ed Seymour bailed out of a 1-26 after trying to do a roll and damaging a wing. He was almost hit by the spinning 1-26 after bailing out. Ed lived to tell about it so it can be done.

I have not tried this in flight, but if you release the 1-26 canopy latch and raise the canopy it may stay over to the side and allow egress from the 1-26. This can be done in a 2-33. After releasing the canopy latch, the 2-33 canopy will stay open to the side with no glider control problems. Ed Seymour would demonstrate this to students during instructional flights. As one of Ed Seymour's students I can attest that this demonstration keeps you wide awake.

Chuck Zabinski
"ZC"

What's the problem with just opening the canopy and climbing out? If you can get in on the ground, you should be able to get out in the air!

As for a chute - I've flown 1-26s both ways. I always wear a chute (paid for it, might as well use it!) in my own glider, but don't always bring it when I fly the club's 1-26.

But I sure like having it on!

Kirk
66

I've never left an aircraft in flight and I hope I never experience the need. So my hypothetical, inexperienced thought experiments wonder if a canopy that can stay open in controlled flight will continue to behave while I try to exit the cockpit? Or might it suddenly try closing and knock me unconscious? Hmmm....?

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 6:18:59 PM UTC-6, Clif McVay wrote:
I've never left an aircraft in flight and I hope I never experience the need. So my hypothetical, inexperienced thought experiments wonder if a canopy that can stay open in controlled flight will continue to behave while I try to exit the cockpit? Or might it suddenly try closing and knock me unconscious? Hmmm....?

Clif,
I would not worry too much about getting out of a 1-26 in an emergency. Folks have exited all sorts of gliders in many different aircraft orientations, speeds, altitudes and with various types of canopies. Those that survived had one thing in common.....They all were wearing parachutes.

Without one you essentially have a zero chance of survival. Some folks, for whatever reason, could not get out and/or were incapacitated, and they did not survive, but with a parachute you will at least have a decent chance of survival.

Please, let's not over think this....Fly with a parachute!!! Consider it an insurance policy!!! ;-)

Thx - Renny

On 5/24/2016 10:22 AM, KAIO wrote:
is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight?

Well, I've flown them, but never bailed out of one. I don't see why a
properly motivated pilot would have any particular problems though. If
it were me in a badly damaged I-26, I would certainly want the option to
try! One thing in your favor, your airspeed is likely to be low
compared to almost any other glider.

On the other hand, there is a case of a pilot walking away from a 1-26
crash after losing a wing at altitude! I'm obviously happy that it
turned out well, but doubtless that fellow was wishing for a chute all
the way down.

NTSB Identification: MIA97LA211
Accident occurred Saturday, July 12, 1997 in EUSTIS, FL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 02/02/1998
Aircraft: Schweizer SGS-1-26B, registration: N9927J
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

Any pilot who flies 1-26s wearing parachutes?

Any pilot that flies in the 1-26 Championships and races wears a chute, and many others do also. I have flown in at least 10 Champs, (and they are a hoot!)

The biggest and most important thing is to have a PLAN ahead of time and mentally committed and motivated to leave the aircraft if need be. It is important to rehearse this at least mentally before flight just as you think through rope break options.

If you need to leave a 1-26 in flight I would open the canopy latch, so it does not bind, then pull the canopy pins and push the canopy away. Belts, then pull kick, push, ..... on anything you need to get out and pull the parachute handle. I have always imagined putting my hand under the instrument panel to give me a good pull if need be, then pushing with my legs. It does not matter what you break getting out, because once you make the decision to leave in flight, the glider belongs to the insurance company and you are fighting for your life.

From talking to others the key is to decide you need to get out and then do anything you need to to do so.

On Parachute choice, the back pack is probably the best, and the most common chute and also works well in other gliders if you fly something else.

Kevin Anderson
92

once i was flying a 1-34 (similar canopy set-up of course) and the canopy came open in flight. at a normal flying speed (~60 mph)it broke the lanyard, took the canopy all the way around next to the side of the glider and smashed the glass. the hinges remained intact, but in that instance i could have pulled them if i needed to get rid of the frame. My assessment is that you could totally bail out the other side of the glider if you opened the canopy. the wind is going to take it pretty good so that's nothing to worry about.

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:22:56 AM UTC-4, KAIO wrote:
I'm thinking of buying a parachute for using in a 1-26. I was not able to find any instance of bailout from a 1-26 in the NTSB database. is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight? Can the 1-26 canopy be ejected?

I know that almost anyone who flies a 1-26 does so without wearing a parachute, so I don't want to discuss the relative merits of having one available (I obviously think wearing a parachute is always a good idea). Just who practical is it.

Any pilot who flies 1-26s wearing parachutes?

Thanks!!!!