Parachute 20 year limit

Andy wrote:
On Dec 5, 6:33 pm, Eric Greenwell wrote:
The wind and terrain will make a much bigger difference in your landing
the difference in descent rate between properly sized round or square
parachutes. A soft landing is likely important for someone doing 10 or
20 jumps a day, but not for emergency use.

I have made only about 60 jumps but all of them in the last 10 years
and all of them with low loading ram air chutes. The significant
difference between the ram air canopy and the round canopy is not just
sink rate. A ram air parachute has forward velocity and when it is
turned it goes in a different direction. A round parachute has very
little forward velocity

3 to 5 mph, according to my Softie manual.

and when steered just points in a different
direction but continues to go in the same direction - downwind.

Although a properly flared ram air chute has a lower touchdown sink
rate than a round, it's main advantage for emergency use may be that
the pilot can have some choice as to the landing location.

I still fly with a round but its over 20 years old. If I have to buy
a new chute I would seriously consider getting a ram air canopy.

My observation over 30 years of soaring is the round emergency parachute
works remarkably well for glider pilots. If the pilot gets out, he gets
down safely. I can't remember any glider pilot being seriously injured,
with the possible exception of the pilot of the glider that broke up in
wave near Minden a few years ago (surface winds were about 50 mph when
he landed).

Does anyone remember incidents where the pilot was seriously injured?

Does anyone know of an incident(s) where a ram air parachute, used by a
pilot with no jump training, would have significantly improved the outcome?

Does anyone know of an incident(s) where a ram air parachute, used by an
experienced ram air parachutist, would have significantly improved the
outcome?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
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