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Parachute option
What is the lightest, smallest parachute that will support a 200 lb. pilot?
Fred |
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Parachute option
On Mar 31, 4:43*pm, "Fred Blair"
wrote: What is the lightest, smallest parachute that will support a 200 lb. pilot? Fred Take a look at http://www.butlerparachutes.com/ Mine is quite small. -Tom |
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Parachute option
It depends - what speed do you want to hit the ground?
Mike |
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Fred Blair;688425]What is the lightest, smallest parachute that will support a 200 lb. pilot?
Where do you live? Your choice of parachutes will be different if most of your soaring was done in the UK versus Colorado. - Barry Muhlenberg |
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Parachute option
In article ,
"Fred Blair" wrote: What is the lightest, smallest parachute that will support a 200 lb. pilot? Fred Nationals are/used to be the lightest of the parachutes available in the U.S. My National 360 is not very comfortable in my Libelle, but I bought it primarily for use in power plane with a very small cockpit. I like my Strong 305 for glider use. |
#6
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Parachute option
Texas mostly
"tomcatvf51" wrote in message ... Fred Blair;688425]What is the lightest, smallest parachute that will support a 200 lb. pilot? Where do you live? Your choice of parachutes will be different if most of your soaring was done in the UK versus Colorado. - Barry Muhlenberg -- tomcatvf51 |
#7
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Parachute option
On Mar 31, 3:43*pm, "Fred Blair"
wrote: What is the lightest, smallest parachute that will support a 200 lb. pilot? Fred Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92bkf1mg24Q You can just keep it in your shirt pocket. |
#8
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Parachute option
Looks a little bulky for my Libelle.
wrote in message ... On Mar 31, 3:43 pm, "Fred Blair" wrote: What is the lightest, smallest parachute that will support a 200 lb. pilot? Fred Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92bkf1mg24Q You can just keep it in your shirt pocket. |
#9
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Parachute option
On Mar 31, 6:43*pm, "Fred Blair"
wrote: What is the lightest, smallest parachute that will support a 200 lb. pilot? "Small" isn't precise enough. If you're tall, it also depends on your ratio of torso height to leg length. For me (6'3"), the critical factor is where the point of maximum thickness is. I need a chute that's thicker in the lumbar area but very thin behind the shoulders so I can sit back ALL the way in the cockpit and close the canopy. Most chutes are uniformly thick or a little thicker behind the shoulders and don't work at all for me. That said, I flew a 201 Libelle for years with an old Navy backpack that wasn't thin (or light) at all. From the specs and photos, the best solution (in the US) seemed to be a Softie Wedge. I bought a used one with a new canopy and it came packed just like a regular Softie; i.e., not nearly thin enough behind the shoulders. I sent it back to the rigger with instructions to pack it like the photo. When it was returned, it was better--and usable--but still much thicker behind the shoulders than I wanted. I talked to the factory and they told me to send it to them for repacking and they'd make sure it was done right. Haven't done that yet so I'm hopeful. Which brings up a good point: if you buy a chute like this, don't assume the rigger will pack it the same way. I've had to deal with this for years. Include the owner's manual but also a note regarding where you want the maximum thickness. Chip Bearden ASW 24 "JB" USA |
#10
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Parachute option
On Apr 3, 10:10*am, wrote:
On Mar 31, 6:43*pm, "Fred Blair" wrote: What is the lightest, smallest parachute that will support a 200 lb. pilot? "Small" isn't precise enough. If you're tall, it also depends on your ratio of torso height to leg length. For me (6'3"), the critical factor is where the point of maximum thickness is. I need a chute that's thicker in the lumbar area but very thin behind the shoulders so I can sit back ALL the way in the cockpit and close the canopy. Most chutes are uniformly thick or a little thicker behind the shoulders and don't work at all for me. That said, I flew a 201 Libelle for years with an old Navy backpack that wasn't thin (or light) at all. From the specs and photos, the best solution (in the US) seemed to be a Softie Wedge. I bought a used one with a new canopy and it came packed just like a regular Softie; i.e., not nearly thin enough behind the shoulders. I sent it back to the rigger with instructions to pack it like the photo. When it was returned, it was better--and usable--but still much thicker behind the shoulders than I wanted. I talked to the factory and they told me to send it to them for repacking and they'd make sure it was done right. Haven't done that yet so I'm hopeful. Which brings up a good point: if you buy a chute like this, don't assume the rigger will pack it the same way. I've had to deal with this for years. Include the owner's manual but also a note regarding where you want the maximum thickness. Chip Bearden ASW 24 "JB" USA Absolutely - there's a lot of lattitude in the packing. I have a National 425 which I can have packed with a uniform thickness or with a "reverse taper" that puts more material at the lower (lumbar) area and less at the top. I think you should have a conversation with the dealer/manufacturer and describe your specific needs. You may be pleasantly surprised. |
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