When to get a parachute?

On Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 5:35:15 PM UTC-7, wrote:
I see your point there son of flubber, but no offense, if I am in the front seat of a two place glider and someguy midairs us and takes off a wing or elevator and I have a chute and altitude, I am outta there and the guy in the back seat is on his own! Lol

Hmm, not sure that is the right attitude to have. Assess the situation first.

1) Gliders that have been involved in mid-air collisions that caused significant damage to wings and horizontal stabilizers have been known to be flown safely to the ground.
a. ASG-29 in Uvalde, Lost half elevator and horizontal stabilizer, landed in a field, pilot didnt know what he had lost until walking around the aircraft.
b. Cant remember the aircraft types, but believe it was Parowan, two aircraft collided in a thermal, came back and landed with significant damage.

I am not saying don't jump out. I am saying that not every incident of swapping paint and fiberglass (or metal, or carbon fiber) has to result in an immediate bailout. We are aviators and are capable of handling emergencies in a safe and effective manner.

2) Not sure why one person would wear a chute but the other wouldn't. In your scenario of leaving the guy in the back seat behind, you are likely the cause of his death, not the hypothetical mid-air. If the aircraft were still flyable but you immediately jumped out from the front seat, the CG would likely exceed aft limits and become uncontrollable. With you in the front seat the aircraft may still be controllable.

Parachutes are not always the answer to a problem or emergency. This is the main reason I dislike the Cirrus SR-20/SR-22. (I used to teach in these.) Pilots become reliant upon the fact that they have a parachute and substitute good judgement and planning for it.

Parachutes are an absolute last resort. That is not to say you shouldn't use it when you need it, however if the situation permits, take a moment to assess what you still have and what you have lost.

Fly the plane first!!!