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#11
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That's great feedback, everyone. Thanks very much. The problem I have at
the moment is that I live in the UK and don't know of any dealers around which I could fly to and try several on in the airplane. The Softie with the aerobatic harness sounds like a good bet, though, based on the comments here. Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to drop a line in. Much appreciated. Shawn "DSowder" wrote in message ... Was hoping to get a bit of expertise here. I'm in the market for an emergency bailout chute for flying in my Pitts S-1D. The top US contenders seem to be National and Softie but with no experience in the field, and parachutes not exactly being the kind of object you can try on for size in the shop, I don't really know what to look for and what to avoid. I'm 6 ft. and 200 lb. I used a "Mini-Softie" backpack in the S1 ("C" fuselage, "S" wings) that I flew for several years, and was satisfied that it was the best fit for that airplane. When I switched to an S-2B, I bought two Wedge Softies (also backpacks), which are thicker at the bottom than at the top. The S-2B has good legroom, the Wedge leans me back a bit and I have more distance from face to inst. panel. Again, the right choice; it's very comfortable, even for 10 hr. flying days. BUT....the Wedge doesn't work for me in the S-1, because the latter is very short on legroom. If I were 3 or 4 inches shorter, it would be a different story, and the Wedge would be OK. It might also be OK in a "long fuselage" S-1S or T. But I think the D is short. Some folks like the "chair pack" which has a flap below the butt to help hold the chute in place during negative G. I don't find any problem with the straight backpack or the Wedge here, at least not up to -5 g's, which is about all I ever do. My Mini Softie had the pelvis-bruising buckles, which I thought were OK, so I ordered the Wedge's that way. After I started flying serious advanced, the bleeding started bothering me so at repack time, I had Dan convert my favorite Wedge to the aerobatic harness. Problem solved. If you can, borrow chutes from friends to try, or if you are close to a parachute shop, fly in to visit. Dan at Paraphernalia in Arlington (WA) has been more than accomodating to me. It's only about 220 NM from home for me, so stopping in isn't difficult. Go to a nearby contest and you'll find 20 to 50 pilots with every conceivable type of parachute, and they'll probably all be willing to advise and help. Especially the big ones (pilots, that is)...it's a battle for all of us! Doug Sowder |
#12
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"ShawnD2112" wrote in message news:AnZDc.1369$Dq1.851@newsfe6-win...
Was hoping to get a bit of expertise here. I'm in the market for an emergency bailout chute for flying in my Pitts S-1D. I fly a motor glider with a Paraphenalia Softie, with the "diaper packed at the bottom" which is how my rigger calls packing it fatter at the bottom and thinner at the top (as mentioned by an earlier poster). As others have recommended, talking to other Pitts owners is clearly a good move, making sure to compare body sizes. Maybe one of them will even lend you his chute to try out, on the ground at a minimum. Other thoughts: My rigger installed an air bladder in the lower back area that I can pump up for lower back support. Highly recommended. I pump it, leave it for a while and release the pressure. A kind of slow massage that seems to keep my back from getting stiff from being in one position for many hours. Probably less of an issue in aerobatic flying than soaring since you'll probably run out of fuel before your back gets sore. If you're in the San Francisco area -- and maybe even if you're not -- you ought to try Silver Parachute Sales. Alan Silver runs it and is an excellent rigger who will treat you right both on initial sale and repacking. He's based near the Hayward airport, just across the bay from SFO. I know lots of glider pilots who send him their chutes for repacking even though there are other, closer riggers. His telephone is 510-785-7070. Hope this helps and have fun with the Pitts. Martin |
#13
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"ShawnD2112" wrote in message news:AnZDc.1369$Dq1.851@newsfe6-win...
Was hoping to get a bit of expertise here. I'm in the market for an emergency bailout chute for flying in my Pitts S-1D. I've bought two new Butler seat packs four years ago that I use in my S2-C. Happy with them. Would buy them again. Doug Carter |
#14
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How well do the seat packs work in the Pitts? While I have a cushion or two
under me, I didn't think there would be enough room for a seatpack chute. Obviously I was wrong? Cheers, Shawn "Doug Carter" wrote in message om... "ShawnD2112" wrote in message news:AnZDc.1369$Dq1.851@newsfe6-win... Was hoping to get a bit of expertise here. I'm in the market for an emergency bailout chute for flying in my Pitts S-1D. I've bought two new Butler seat packs four years ago that I use in my S2-C. Happy with them. Would buy them again. Doug Carter |
#15
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Dudley,
Sound advice. Negative stuff isn't the reason I've decided to get a chute. I've done a bit of negative but I'm staying away from any of the real stuff until I get some inverted spin training. No, what's really made me decide were two things. One is that I've started doing some basic formation work with a mate. While we're taking it slow and investing in some training, there's always the risk of something going wrong and someone's airplane touching someone else's. It's that scenario that makes a chute seem like a good idea. I've also got a bit of a phobia about fire in the cockpit. The other thing was a long term re-evaluation of the risks. When I first started flying the Pitts, I thought about a chute but initially ruled it out (they're not required for aerobatics in the UK, and, in fact, a lot of guys don't wear them). I ruled it out because I figured that to open the canopy, exit the aircraft, deploy the chute, and get one swing in before hitting the ground, I'd need to be about 2,000 feet up. Well, when competing andpracticing, I only ever got up that high at the tops of aerobatic maneuvers, not during the bulk of my flying. So, I figured, if I rarely fly high enough for a chute to work, what are the chances of being able to get that altitude if I needed it? Pretty slim, I reckoned, so I thought a chute was a comfort factor more than a real safety option. Now, that all said, I'd feel like a real tit if I found myself with an unflyable airplane and no means to get out of it. So screw all that misguided analysis above, I'm getting a bailout chute. I guess this is a case of experience and age teaching one a bit of wisdom? It seems silly to deny myself an option based on some flawed logic applied in the hangar. Thanks for the tip on the Softie. I'm going to give them a call tonight. Cheers, Shawn "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message link.net... "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message ink.net... Forgot to tell you. Whatever you buy, try it on first and make at least one flight in it with the Pitts. Don't baby the flight either. Take it out sustained both ways and see how it feels, especially inverted. Do a half roll, stabilize there and just hang for a bit and feel it on your back. You'll know if it's going to do the job for you. Dudley |
#16
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"ShawnD2112" wrote in message ...
How well do the seat packs work in the Pitts? While I have a cushion or two under me, I didn't think there would be enough room for a seatpack chute. Obviously I was wrong? I have three cushions, 1", 2" & 4" thick for each seat bottom (as well as 1" & 2" back cushions). Combination used depends on pilot height. I'm 5' 11" and use the 1" in the back seat. Note that the back seat has the least head room; you can jack up a little higher in the front. The advantage of the seat pack is that it keeps you further from the panel. The panel is a bit close (for me) to begin with. In the Decathlon I used a back pack with no cushion behind it. Different seat geometry. In the Yak I used seat packs; they have a bucket for that. Hope this helps... Doug Carter Pitts S2-C. p.s. All my friends with S1-S & S1-T single seaters use seat packs as well. dc |
#17
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I think that practicing aerobatics below 2000' is not really a good idea. A
good friend of mine got killed when he messed up a hammerhead that he started at 1500'. When I practice new maneuvers, I want to be at 4000' to 5000', higher if they are spins. As far as the minimum altitude for chute opening is concerned, I believe that you can get your chute open fromless than 1000', how much less depends on the circumstances. Guenther ---------------------------------------------------- Guenther Eichhorn | Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA CPL,ASMELS,Glider,LBH,IA,CFI | Pitts S-2A: N1GE DC-3 type rating | Flying is the Pitts http://acro.harvard.edu/ACRO In article , "ShawnD2112" writes: Dudley, Sound advice. Negative stuff isn't the reason I've decided to get a chute. I've done a bit of negative but I'm staying away from any of the real stuff until I get some inverted spin training. No, what's really made me decide were two things. One is that I've started doing some basic formation work with a mate. While we're taking it slow and investing in some training, there's always the risk of something going wrong and someone's airplane touching someone else's. It's that scenario that makes a chute seem like a good idea. I've also got a bit of a phobia about fire in the cockpit. The other thing was a long term re-evaluation of the risks. When I first started flying the Pitts, I thought about a chute but initially ruled it out (they're not required for aerobatics in the UK, and, in fact, a lot of guys don't wear them). I ruled it out because I figured that to open the canopy, exit the aircraft, deploy the chute, and get one swing in before hitting the ground, I'd need to be about 2,000 feet up. Well, when competing andpracticing, I only ever got up that high at the tops of aerobatic maneuvers, not during the bulk of my flying. So, I figured, if I rarely fly high enough for a chute to work, what are the chances of being able to get that altitude if I needed it? Pretty slim, I reckoned, so I thought a chute was a comfort factor more than a real safety option. Now, that all said, I'd feel like a real tit if I found myself with an unflyable airplane and no means to get out of it. So screw all that misguided analysis above, I'm getting a bailout chute. I guess this is a case of experience and age teaching one a bit of wisdom? It seems silly to deny myself an option based on some flawed logic applied in the hangar. Thanks for the tip on the Softie. I'm going to give them a call tonight. Cheers, Shawn "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message hlink.net... "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message ink.net... Forgot to tell you. Whatever you buy, try it on first and make at least one flight in it with the Pitts. Don't baby the flight either. Take it out sustained both ways and see how it feels, especially inverted. Do a half roll, stabilize there and just hang for a bit and feel it on your back. You'll know if it's going to do the job for you. Dudley |
#18
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Guenther,
Sorry to hear about your friend, and I appreciate where your advice is coming from. I agree with you on practicing new maneuvers but when you're practicing for a competition you have to be able to get your positioning right. Competition floor in the UK ast Standard level is 1000 ft. Shawn "Guenther Eichhorn" wrote in message ... I think that practicing aerobatics below 2000' is not really a good idea. A good friend of mine got killed when he messed up a hammerhead that he started at 1500'. When I practice new maneuvers, I want to be at 4000' to 5000', higher if they are spins. As far as the minimum altitude for chute opening is concerned, I believe that you can get your chute open fromless than 1000', how much less depends on the circumstances. Guenther ---------------------------------------------------- Guenther Eichhorn | Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA CPL,ASMELS,Glider,LBH,IA,CFI | Pitts S-2A: N1GE DC-3 type rating | Flying is the Pitts http://acro.harvard.edu/ACRO In article , "ShawnD2112" writes: Dudley, Sound advice. Negative stuff isn't the reason I've decided to get a chute. I've done a bit of negative but I'm staying away from any of the real stuff until I get some inverted spin training. No, what's really made me decide were two things. One is that I've started doing some basic formation work with a mate. While we're taking it slow and investing in some training, there's always the risk of something going wrong and someone's airplane touching someone else's. It's that scenario that makes a chute seem like a good idea. I've also got a bit of a phobia about fire in the cockpit. The other thing was a long term re-evaluation of the risks. When I first started flying the Pitts, I thought about a chute but initially ruled it out (they're not required for aerobatics in the UK, and, in fact, a lot of guys don't wear them). I ruled it out because I figured that to open the canopy, exit the aircraft, deploy the chute, and get one swing in before hitting the ground, I'd need to be about 2,000 feet up. Well, when competing andpracticing, I only ever got up that high at the tops of aerobatic maneuvers, not during the bulk of my flying. So, I figured, if I rarely fly high enough for a chute to work, what are the chances of being able to get that altitude if I needed it? Pretty slim, I reckoned, so I thought a chute was a comfort factor more than a real safety option. Now, that all said, I'd feel like a real tit if I found myself with an unflyable airplane and no means to get out of it. So screw all that misguided analysis above, I'm getting a bailout chute. I guess this is a case of experience and age teaching one a bit of wisdom? It seems silly to deny myself an option based on some flawed logic applied in the hangar. Thanks for the tip on the Softie. I'm going to give them a call tonight. Cheers, Shawn "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message hlink.net... "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message ink.net... Forgot to tell you. Whatever you buy, try it on first and make at least one flight in it with the Pitts. Don't baby the flight either. Take it out sustained both ways and see how it feels, especially inverted. Do a half roll, stabilize there and just hang for a bit and feel it on your back. You'll know if it's going to do the job for you. Dudley |
#19
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I've been looking for a chute for my citabria - 7ECA. I spoke to Alan
Silver yesterday. He was very nice and explained alot to me about chutes in the citabria. I'll need to modify my seat back to use a backpack chute but it sounds worth it. Some of you may have seen the ad's of pilot standing next to a demolished citabria. He barely made it out. Alan told me that he had trouble getting the door off. He pulled the hinger pins successfully but didn't realize that he needed to push the bottom of the door out to get it into the slip stream where it will be blown back. According to Alan the guy had chosen to practice at around 6500AGL. He struggled with the door for so long that if he had been even a few hundred feet lower, he might not have made it. Scarey. The reason he needed to get out was because part of the rear seat came foward and fouled the rear stick. I hope I got that story straight. Dave 7ECA Martin Hellman wrote: "ShawnD2112" wrote in message news:AnZDc.1369$Dq1.851@newsfe6-win... Was hoping to get a bit of expertise here. I'm in the market for an emergency bailout chute for flying in my Pitts S-1D. I fly a motor glider with a Paraphenalia Softie, with the "diaper packed at the bottom" which is how my rigger calls packing it fatter at the bottom and thinner at the top (as mentioned by an earlier poster). As others have recommended, talking to other Pitts owners is clearly a good move, making sure to compare body sizes. Maybe one of them will even lend you his chute to try out, on the ground at a minimum. Other thoughts: My rigger installed an air bladder in the lower back area that I can pump up for lower back support. Highly recommended. I pump it, leave it for a while and release the pressure. A kind of slow massage that seems to keep my back from getting stiff from being in one position for many hours. Probably less of an issue in aerobatic flying than soaring since you'll probably run out of fuel before your back gets sore. If you're in the San Francisco area -- and maybe even if you're not -- you ought to try Silver Parachute Sales. Alan Silver runs it and is an excellent rigger who will treat you right both on initial sale and repacking. He's based near the Hayward airport, just across the bay from SFO. I know lots of glider pilots who send him their chutes for repacking even though there are other, closer riggers. His telephone is 510-785-7070. Hope this helps and have fun with the Pitts. Martin |
#20
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Yes, of course for a competition you practice lower (even though I personally still don't go
below 2000', because of noise concerns as much as because of safety concernsS). From your post I assumed that you were new to the Pitts (you said " When I first started flying the Pitts... "), which would mean that the maneuvers are new for you. Guenther In article , "ShawnD2112" writes: Guenther, Sorry to hear about your friend, and I appreciate where your advice is coming from. I agree with you on practicing new maneuvers but when you're practicing for a competition you have to be able to get your positioning right. Competition floor in the UK ast Standard level is 1000 ft. Shawn "Guenther Eichhorn" wrote in message ... I think that practicing aerobatics below 2000' is not really a good idea. A good friend of mine got killed when he messed up a hammerhead that he started at 1500'. When I practice new maneuvers, I want to be at 4000' to 5000', higher if they are spins. As far as the minimum altitude for chute opening is concerned, I believe that you can get your chute open fromless than 1000', how much less depends on the circumstances. Guenther ---------------------------------------------------- Guenther Eichhorn | Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA CPL,ASMELS,Glider,LBH,IA,CFI | Pitts S-2A: N1GE DC-3 type rating | Flying is the Pitts http://acro.harvard.edu/ACRO In article , "ShawnD2112" writes: Dudley, Sound advice. Negative stuff isn't the reason I've decided to get a chute. I've done a bit of negative but I'm staying away from any of the real stuff until I get some inverted spin training. No, what's really made me decide were two things. One is that I've started doing some basic formation work with a mate. While we're taking it slow and investing in some training, there's always the risk of something going wrong and someone's airplane touching someone else's. It's that scenario that makes a chute seem like a good idea. I've also got a bit of a phobia about fire in the cockpit. The other thing was a long term re-evaluation of the risks. When I first started flying the Pitts, I thought about a chute but initially ruled it out (they're not required for aerobatics in the UK, and, in fact, a lot of guys don't wear them). I ruled it out because I figured that to open the canopy, exit the aircraft, deploy the chute, and get one swing in before hitting the ground, I'd need to be about 2,000 feet up. Well, when competing andpracticing, I only ever got up that high at the tops of aerobatic maneuvers, not during the bulk of my flying. So, I figured, if I rarely fly high enough for a chute to work, what are the chances of being able to get that altitude if I needed it? Pretty slim, I reckoned, so I thought a chute was a comfort factor more than a real safety option. Now, that all said, I'd feel like a real tit if I found myself with an unflyable airplane and no means to get out of it. So screw all that misguided analysis above, I'm getting a bailout chute. I guess this is a case of experience and age teaching one a bit of wisdom? It seems silly to deny myself an option based on some flawed logic applied in the hangar. Thanks for the tip on the Softie. I'm going to give them a call tonight. Cheers, Shawn "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message hlink.net... "Dudley Henriques" wrote in message ink.net... Forgot to tell you. Whatever you buy, try it on first and make at least one flight in it with the Pitts. Don't baby the flight either. Take it out sustained both ways and see how it feels, especially inverted. Do a half roll, stabilize there and just hang for a bit and feel it on your back. You'll know if it's going to do the job for you. Dudley |
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