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#11
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Well done for looking after your instructor! I can't wait to get parachute
and airplane together to see if everything works out. I'll let you know how it goes! Shawn "justin" wrote in message ... Shawn: FWIW I also bought a new Softie seatpack chute for use in my Yak-52. The chute fit's perfectly in the seat pan and doesn't move at all. I check it every flight to make sure there is no wear starting. So far no problems. I was surprised how comfortable the chute feels when on. I always keep the chute on when exiting the airplane for the same reasons others have noted. BTW, I liked the Softie so much I bought a second one for the back seat...mighty thoughtful of me to think of my instructor's well being don't you think Greg Arnold p.s. If anyone knows of a good aerobatic instructor that will instruct in my Yak 52, please let me know. I live in Mobile, Alabama. "ShawnD2112" wrote in message k... Jay, Was in a similar situation and just this weekend took delivery of a new Sortie seatpack chute. I didn't know anything about parachutes, didn't want to become an expert, so I figured I was not a good candidate for buying a used one. Also I didn't really want to trust my last-chance piece of equipment to something I didn't know the full history on. With a bailout rig, there's no redundant system in case it fails. It cost me $1,500.00 but I felt it was one piece of equipment that was worth not scrimping on. I phoned Softie and spoke to Jim, explained the kind of flying I do and what my knowledge base was (none!). He talked me through all the types of rigs and the things I needed to consider. It took about 3 or 4 calls with various questions and dimensions of myself and the airplane to get sorted what I wanted. I haven't used it yet...wait, let me rephrase that...I haven't worn it yet in the airplane, so I don't know if it all fits in the seat pan and I can get in and out of the airplane with it on, but so far so good. I'd give Softie a call just as a place to start. They were really helpful and down to earth. Good luck whichever way you go! Shawn "Jay Moreland" wrote in message newsXbrd.172979$HA.168018@attbi_s01... I need advice on a pilot emergency chute. I am only a pilot and know nothing about parachutes. I need an emergency parachute because I will be doing aerobatics in a Pitts-like biplane: required by FAA. My weight is #140. The altitude I will be landing if I am unlucky enough to need to use the chute is 5400 feet. I am considering purchasing a used parachute that I would have inspected and re-packed regularly by a professional Master rigger. Is buying a 10 year old parachute like a Security, Softie, Strong...etc going to be significantly less safe than a brand new parachute? (Assuming it checks out as OK by the Master rigger) Is there anything to watch out for? Are there any special tests that I need to have done on a used parachute to know that it is still safe? If the red-line on the aircraft is 180kts, should I worry about the parachute being rated to only 150 knots or should I assume that I will slow down to terminal velocity in an emergency and will only need the 150 knot capability? What other considerations should I think of? |
#12
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Having had precicely one incident in which I had to 'try' to get out
of my Pitts very quickly (on the ground) I can add some interesting 'additional variables' Make sure your headset is setup in such a manner that it can come free easily too. I had an incident on the ground last summer where I ran my smoke system to show off for a photographer. I shut the engine down too quickly and still had some smoke fluid in the exhaust and of course got a small fire under the plane. Nothing that caused any damage but all of a sudden I look up and people are running in all directions waving madly and yelling 'FIRE' .. well .. I released all the buckles, slide the cockpit back jumped out of the plane, only to have my head held back by the headset and cables. Not too dangerous given I was not moving very fast but had I been in the slipstream it could have been pretty violent and I guess could break your neck etc. That chin strap held tight even as I tried to yank the thing off. The other thing I discovered was that the shoulder straps provide sufficient friction even when unbuckeled that when you try to stand up they will actually prevent you unless you push them off your shoulders. Try it some time. Just sit in the plane with all the belts undone but the shoulder harnesses lose over your sholders ... now try to stand up ... LOTS of resistance. So .. add to your list: Detach your chin strap on your headset and/or make sure it is very weak and will break away easily. A folded over strap of velcro is pretty damn strong! If I were building an experimental, my headset jacks would push in vertically instead of horizontally to allow them to pull free in the case of a baleout. Push the shoulder straps off each shoulder! Infact bungges or elastics to do this may not be a dumb idea. ALso .. don't run your smoke system on the ground unless you keep the engine running for a minute or so afterwards to blow any remaining oil out of the pipes. Also don't throttle back with the smoke system on while on the ground! Oh ... and don't let line guys put 100LL in your smoke tank .. don't laugh I've stopped more than one. By the way .. as an interesting aside ... the only person watching that reacted properly was my 11 year old son who ran away from the plane to the hanger to get a fire extinguisher. Cheers and fly safe, Peter A good habit to get into is to exit the airplane following each flight while still wearing the parachute. You will find that it catches on something until you learn the proper body position for clearance. If you have to exit in an emergency, the learned body position will make it easier, although you certainly will be dealing with additional variables! BJC Formerly S-1S w National 360 "ShawnD2112" wrote in message k... Jay, Was in a similar situation and just this weekend took delivery of a new Sortie seatpack chute. I didn't know anything about parachutes, didn't want to become an expert, so I figured I was not a good candidate for buying a used one. Also I didn't really want to trust my last-chance piece of equipment to something I didn't know the full history on. With a bailout rig, there's no redundant system in case it fails. It cost me $1,500.00 but I felt it was one piece of equipment that was worth not scrimping on. I phoned Softie and spoke to Jim, explained the kind of flying I do and what my knowledge base was (none!). He talked me through all the types of rigs and the things I needed to consider. It took about 3 or 4 calls with various questions and dimensions of myself and the airplane to get sorted what I wanted. I haven't used it yet...wait, let me rephrase that...I haven't worn it yet in the airplane, so I don't know if it all fits in the seat pan and I can get in and out of the airplane with it on, but so far so good. I'd give Softie a call just as a place to start. They were really helpful and down to earth. Good luck whichever way you go! Shawn "Jay Moreland" wrote in message newsXbrd.172979$HA.168018@attbi_s01... I need advice on a pilot emergency chute. I am only a pilot and know nothing about parachutes. I need an emergency parachute because I will be doing aerobatics in a Pitts-like biplane: required by FAA. My weight is #140. The altitude I will be landing if I am unlucky enough to need to use the chute is 5400 feet. I am considering purchasing a used parachute that I would have inspected and re-packed regularly by a professional Master rigger. Is buying a 10 year old parachute like a Security, Softie, Strong...etc going to be significantly less safe than a brand new parachute? (Assuming it checks out as OK by the Master rigger) Is there anything to watch out for? Are there any special tests that I need to have done on a used parachute to know that it is still safe? If the red-line on the aircraft is 180kts, should I worry about the parachute being rated to only 150 knots or should I assume that I will slow down to terminal velocity in an emergency and will only need the 150 knot capability? What other considerations should I think of? |
#13
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Peter,
Tips based on experience are always the best kind. Thanks for posting. I hear what you're saying about straps. I've experienced the same kind of thing just trying to get out under normal circumstances but being too lazy to take the straps off my shoulders. As for headset, I wear an HGU-55 helmet with quick disconnect at the helmet, though how quick and how much tension it takes to break it I don't know. Do you or anyone else in this group have experience of that element? Thanks again for the writeup. It's all going in my personal bag of "stuff to remember". Cheers, Shawn "Peter Ashwood-Smith C-GZRO" wrote in message om... Having had precicely one incident in which I had to 'try' to get out of my Pitts very quickly (on the ground) I can add some interesting 'additional variables' Make sure your headset is setup in such a manner that it can come free easily too. I had an incident on the ground last summer where I ran my smoke system to show off for a photographer. I shut the engine down too quickly and still had some smoke fluid in the exhaust and of course got a small fire under the plane. Nothing that caused any damage but all of a sudden I look up and people are running in all directions waving madly and yelling 'FIRE' .. well .. I released all the buckles, slide the cockpit back jumped out of the plane, only to have my head held back by the headset and cables. Not too dangerous given I was not moving very fast but had I been in the slipstream it could have been pretty violent and I guess could break your neck etc. That chin strap held tight even as I tried to yank the thing off. The other thing I discovered was that the shoulder straps provide sufficient friction even when unbuckeled that when you try to stand up they will actually prevent you unless you push them off your shoulders. Try it some time. Just sit in the plane with all the belts undone but the shoulder harnesses lose over your sholders ... now try to stand up ... LOTS of resistance. So .. add to your list: Detach your chin strap on your headset and/or make sure it is very weak and will break away easily. A folded over strap of velcro is pretty damn strong! If I were building an experimental, my headset jacks would push in vertically instead of horizontally to allow them to pull free in the case of a baleout. Push the shoulder straps off each shoulder! Infact bungges or elastics to do this may not be a dumb idea. ALso .. don't run your smoke system on the ground unless you keep the engine running for a minute or so afterwards to blow any remaining oil out of the pipes. Also don't throttle back with the smoke system on while on the ground! Oh ... and don't let line guys put 100LL in your smoke tank .. don't laugh I've stopped more than one. By the way .. as an interesting aside ... the only person watching that reacted properly was my 11 year old son who ran away from the plane to the hanger to get a fire extinguisher. Cheers and fly safe, Peter A good habit to get into is to exit the airplane following each flight while still wearing the parachute. You will find that it catches on something until you learn the proper body position for clearance. If you have to exit in an emergency, the learned body position will make it easier, although you certainly will be dealing with additional variables! BJC Formerly S-1S w National 360 "ShawnD2112" wrote in message k... Jay, Was in a similar situation and just this weekend took delivery of a new Sortie seatpack chute. I didn't know anything about parachutes, didn't want to become an expert, so I figured I was not a good candidate for buying a used one. Also I didn't really want to trust my last-chance piece of equipment to something I didn't know the full history on. With a bailout rig, there's no redundant system in case it fails. It cost me $1,500.00 but I felt it was one piece of equipment that was worth not scrimping on. I phoned Softie and spoke to Jim, explained the kind of flying I do and what my knowledge base was (none!). He talked me through all the types of rigs and the things I needed to consider. It took about 3 or 4 calls with various questions and dimensions of myself and the airplane to get sorted what I wanted. I haven't used it yet...wait, let me rephrase that...I haven't worn it yet in the airplane, so I don't know if it all fits in the seat pan and I can get in and out of the airplane with it on, but so far so good. I'd give Softie a call just as a place to start. They were really helpful and down to earth. Good luck whichever way you go! Shawn "Jay Moreland" wrote in message newsXbrd.172979$HA.168018@attbi_s01... I need advice on a pilot emergency chute. I am only a pilot and know nothing about parachutes. I need an emergency parachute because I will be doing aerobatics in a Pitts-like biplane: required by FAA. My weight is #140. The altitude I will be landing if I am unlucky enough to need to use the chute is 5400 feet. I am considering purchasing a used parachute that I would have inspected and re-packed regularly by a professional Master rigger. Is buying a 10 year old parachute like a Security, Softie, Strong...etc going to be significantly less safe than a brand new parachute? (Assuming it checks out as OK by the Master rigger) Is there anything to watch out for? Are there any special tests that I need to have done on a used parachute to know that it is still safe? If the red-line on the aircraft is 180kts, should I worry about the parachute being rated to only 150 knots or should I assume that I will slow down to terminal velocity in an emergency and will only need the 150 knot capability? What other considerations should I think of? |
#14
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Interesting post Peter. Good tip on the shoulder straps. I'd like to add
one thought in here, which you and others might like to seriously consider. Bail out procedures. To my way of thinking, it could do you a world of harm to undo your belts and push off your shoulder straps BEFORE opening your canopy. If the aircraft was out of control, a likely reason for bailing out, you may find yourself wedged into the canopy or in an odd position that would not allow you to reach or open the canopy. I bail out of my Pitts all the time..... in my mind. I practice over and over again so I don't have to think about it if the time should ever come. I always open the canopy as the first step in my sequence. So far I haven't worried about my headset, as I don't have a chin strap, but when that happens I'll have to have some kind of disconnect. You are right about the velcro on a chinstrap-- pulled on the shear even 1/2" wide is incredibly strong stuff! Cheers, al. "Peter Ashwood-Smith C-GZRO" wrote in message om... Having had precicely one incident in which I had to 'try' to get out of my Pitts very quickly (on the ground) I can add some interesting 'additional variables' Make sure your headset is setup in such a manner that it can come free easily too. I had an incident on the ground last summer where I ran my smoke system to show off for a photographer. I shut the engine down too quickly and still had some smoke fluid in the exhaust and of course got a small fire under the plane. Nothing that caused any damage but all of a sudden I look up and people are running in all directions waving madly and yelling 'FIRE' .. well .. I released all the buckles, slide the cockpit back jumped out of the plane, only to have my head held back by the headset and cables. Not too dangerous given I was not moving very fast but had I been in the slipstream it could have been pretty violent and I guess could break your neck etc. That chin strap held tight even as I tried to yank the thing off. The other thing I discovered was that the shoulder straps provide sufficient friction even when unbuckeled that when you try to stand up they will actually prevent you unless you push them off your shoulders. Try it some time. Just sit in the plane with all the belts undone but the shoulder harnesses lose over your sholders ... now try to stand up ... LOTS of resistance. So .. add to your list: Detach your chin strap on your headset and/or make sure it is very weak and will break away easily. A folded over strap of velcro is pretty damn strong! If I were building an experimental, my headset jacks would push in vertically instead of horizontally to allow them to pull free in the case of a baleout. Push the shoulder straps off each shoulder! Infact bungges or elastics to do this may not be a dumb idea. ALso .. don't run your smoke system on the ground unless you keep the engine running for a minute or so afterwards to blow any remaining oil out of the pipes. Also don't throttle back with the smoke system on while on the ground! Oh ... and don't let line guys put 100LL in your smoke tank .. don't laugh I've stopped more than one. By the way .. as an interesting aside ... the only person watching that reacted properly was my 11 year old son who ran away from the plane to the hanger to get a fire extinguisher. Cheers and fly safe, Peter A good habit to get into is to exit the airplane following each flight while still wearing the parachute. You will find that it catches on something until you learn the proper body position for clearance. If you have to exit in an emergency, the learned body position will make it easier, although you certainly will be dealing with additional variables! BJC Formerly S-1S w National 360 "ShawnD2112" wrote in message k... Jay, Was in a similar situation and just this weekend took delivery of a new Sortie seatpack chute. I didn't know anything about parachutes, didn't want to become an expert, so I figured I was not a good candidate for buying a used one. Also I didn't really want to trust my last-chance piece of equipment to something I didn't know the full history on. With a bailout rig, there's no redundant system in case it fails. It cost me $1,500.00 but I felt it was one piece of equipment that was worth not scrimping on. I phoned Softie and spoke to Jim, explained the kind of flying I do and what my knowledge base was (none!). He talked me through all the types of rigs and the things I needed to consider. It took about 3 or 4 calls with various questions and dimensions of myself and the airplane to get sorted what I wanted. I haven't used it yet...wait, let me rephrase that...I haven't worn it yet in the airplane, so I don't know if it all fits in the seat pan and I can get in and out of the airplane with it on, but so far so good. I'd give Softie a call just as a place to start. They were really helpful and down to earth. Good luck whichever way you go! Shawn "Jay Moreland" wrote in message newsXbrd.172979$HA.168018@attbi_s01... I need advice on a pilot emergency chute. I am only a pilot and know nothing about parachutes. I need an emergency parachute because I will be doing aerobatics in a Pitts-like biplane: required by FAA. My weight is #140. The altitude I will be landing if I am unlucky enough to need to use the chute is 5400 feet. I am considering purchasing a used parachute that I would have inspected and re-packed regularly by a professional Master rigger. Is buying a 10 year old parachute like a Security, Softie, Strong...etc going to be significantly less safe than a brand new parachute? (Assuming it checks out as OK by the Master rigger) Is there anything to watch out for? Are there any special tests that I need to have done on a used parachute to know that it is still safe? If the red-line on the aircraft is 180kts, should I worry about the parachute being rated to only 150 knots or should I assume that I will slow down to terminal velocity in an emergency and will only need the 150 knot capability? What other considerations should I think of? |
#15
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I can recommend Para Phernalia and their Softie line of parachutes. Of course,
I'm in Washington only about 300 miles from them.. I got a typical mini-softie backpack with a Pitts S-1 that I bought about 12 years ago, and promptly sent it home to Para Phernalia for inspection and re-pack. When I switched to an S-2B, after much research I bought two Wedge Softie backpacks. I love 'em...the B has plenty of legroom, and the Wedge tilts me back just enough to be really comfortable. I've made several long trips, 10 flight hours in a day, and been very comfortable. Especially if you're flying an S-2B, seriously consider the wedge, it really makes a difference. I suppose that the other parachute companies make similar packs, but I've had excellent service from Para Phernalia. They have a web site at: http://www.softieparachutes.com/ I originally had my Wedge's made with the "standard" harness, but discovered (takes me a while to catch on) that between the Advanced sequences and the Hooker harness, the buckles were causing more bleeding than was really necessary. Dan changed my back-seat Wedge to the aerobatic harness with buckles on the chest. No more bleeding; just a few rasberries early in the season. I'd recommend the standard harness for the front seat chute, as it's easier to put on, unless you like to punish your passengers. Doug Sowder |
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