Of parachutes and things

Cheers, Dudley. As if I didn't have enough things to worry about!!

Spent Sunday briefing and doing a small bit of formation work with a former
Red Arrow pilot. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, as least my log book will
show that I flew in formation with a former Red Arrow! I couldn't get the
grin off my face while it was happening. I think I'm going to enjoy working
with this guy! We went through a lengthy brief down at the local pub (where
all briefings should be held, if you ask me - very civilized approach to
flying, that!) where we discussed my mate's and my intentions, background,
and set out our stall together. We put together a basic framework of our
work then went into the details of safe formation flying to include
communications, formation placement, joinup and break basics, essentially
all the safety and practical issues associated with the business.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a lot to take in. Some of it we knew, most
of it we didn't and even the stuff we knew we weren't entirely sure how to
apply. Talking to a guy who does it for a living (he still flies Jags) was
an eye-opening and extremely motivating experience.

On the parachute side, have decided on a Softie after talking to thier man,
Jim, for quite a while last week. He's going to make up a seat pack rig for
me with an aerobatic harness, based on your advice about the location of the
hardware (thanks for that, by the way)

It's also become time to replace the surplus bag I've been wearing for 3
years. I've looked at Flightsuits in California but are there any other
shops where guys in the community tend to go for good quality and good
prices? Any tips, as with the parachute advice, greatly appreciated!

Hope you had a good 4th weekend!

Cheers,
Shawn

"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
ink.net...
About the negative stuff; the only reason I mentioned it was for you to
make sure whatever harness you bought was comfortable on the negative
side of things. The aerobatic harness is usually much more comfortable
in this respect.
One thing to keep in mind if you're going to be doing formation in a
Pitts, and unfortunately it's not a very pleasant thought :-) Remember,
if you DO make hard contact and have a wing failure, the flying wires
will probably hold on the top wing and the wing will literally beat you
to death before you can get out....so don't get too close!! :-))
Dudley
"ShawnD2112" wrote in message
...
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

ShawnD2112 wrote:
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'd
appreciate any tips anyone out there could provide. Are there any European
models that anyone has any experience with? Obviously comfort and space in
the cockpit are major considerations.

Thanks!
Shawn


If you buy used, ask the seller for the manufacturing date. Many
riggers will not repack a canopy that is older than 20 years old. Also
check for ADs.

Butler has a very good discusion on parachute selection at:
http://www.butlerparachutes.com/howto.htm

And:
http://www.butlerparachutes.com/PDF/HowToSelect.pdf

You really need to talk to other pitts pilots. If the backpack is too
tall, it could ride up and create problems with the shoulder restraint
straps; that wouldn't be desirable when flying upside down. Here is a
quote from the Butler web page:

"In many aircraft with relatively upright seating (close to 90o, such as
the Citabria, 1-26, etc.), a backpack parachute is usually the best
choice. However, the pack must be long enough to rest on the seat bottom
and support its own weight without dragging on the shoulders of the
wearer. Conversely, it must not be so long that it rides up around the
wearer’s ears and forces the shoulder restraint straps up unnecessarily.

If the pilot desires a back type parachute in an aircraft such as the
Pitts (and similar types like Great Lakes, Skybolt, etc.) with tight
cockpits, relatively upright seating and close clearance between the
pilot’s face and the instrument panel, we generally recommend a back
parachute that is thickest at the bottom and thinnest at the top in
order to keep your face out of the instruments. Of course, the problem
with the thickness at the bottom is that you may begin to run out of leg
room."


For added info, do a search on "tso-c23b" or "tso-c23c"

Marty Pautz
"promote a society that respects its elders; before it is too late."

Butler will work with you on getting the fit correct.
He used to post of one of the groups, but I haven't seen anything from
him for awhile.

I highly suggest the Paraphenalia Softie with the aerobatic harness.
It gets the hardware out of the way from the restraints. Especailliy
if you put in a ratchet harnes like a Hooker.

Also, you can get the Softie with Aerobatic Harness as either a back
pack or seat pack.

-j-

On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 18:24:10 +0100, "ShawnD2112"
wrote:

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'd
appreciate any tips anyone out there could provide. Are there any European
models that anyone has any experience with? Obviously comfort and space in
the cockpit are major considerations.

Thanks!
Shawn

"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. 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'd
appreciate any tips anyone out there could provide. Are there any
European
models that anyone has any experience with? Obviously comfort and space
in
the cockpit are major considerations.

Thanks!
Shawn


FWIW, I fly with a Softie seat parachute in my Yak. I don't have any back
room or leg room in the Yak but the seat box is deep. The seat cushion in
the plane is removable and the Softie seat parachute fits perfectly into the
seat box once the seat cushion is removed. The parachute came with a 2-inch
pad which protects the bottom of the parachute from rubbing and also
provides just the right amount of height to sit on. Real comfortable too.

Good luck

justin

The top US
contenders
seem to be National and Softie but with no experience in the field

I'd call them & talk a lot. They are keen to get you the right answers.
VL

"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

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

Shawn,

Many good posts on how to select your parachute. As a parachute rigger and
active skydiver, let me throw in my two cents worth. This advice is for all
who wear parachutes

Comfort is important, but the real application is when you have to use it in
extremus.
Attach your rig snugly, and keep it snug throughout your entire flight. If you
pull the wings off your Pitts, you won't have time to snug up your harness
before you egress. The snatch force applied to your body through a loose
harness, is something you don't want to experience. I know flights in your
Pitts are relatively short, but for glider pilots, are you hearing this?

Also, make sure the harness, when snug, will not slide up or down on your body.
If it does, it will change the location of the ripcord handle, making it more
difficult to find once you clear the aircraft.

Once you make your selection & purchase, with your parachute snugly in place,
practice egressing from your cockpit, many, many times until it becomes second
nature. Verify the "shoulders" of your container don't snag on canopy bows or
railings. Pay special attention to your ripcord handle that it doesn't snag on
anything, verify that it lays flat against your ribs and doesn't protrude.
Verify your seat belt(s) will not snag on the harness.

Practice pulling your ripcord WITH BOTH HANDS, in case one is injured during
egress. In actual use, look to verify your hands are on the ripcord, and then
pull to full arm extension with both hands. I know of instances where pilots
panic during egress (and skydivers also), and pull frantically on the harness
near the ripcord.

Also, never give a packed parachute to a rigger. Use the end of your repack
cycle to practice your "clear & pull", and actually pull the ripcord. Make
sure you do this over a clean, dry surface, not the oily floor of a hangar.
Some rigs have small "closing loops" which come free when the ripcord is
pulled. Make sure you gather up all the small parts and deliver them to your
rigger. Also, don't let anyone stand behind your rig when you pull the
ripcord. Some spring loaded pilot chutes launch with considerable force.

Good luck

Glenn
Senior Rigger NDB
D-9544

(GKgloc) wrote:

Many good posts on how to select your parachute.
Attach your rig snugly
Also, make sure the harness, when snug, will not slide up or down on your body.
practice egressing from your cockpit, many, many times
Practice pulling your ripcord WITH BOTH HANDS, in case one is injured

Also, never give a packed parachute to a rigger. Use the end of your repack
cycle to practice your "clear & pull", and actually pull the ripcord. Make
sure you do this over a clean, dry surface, not the oily floor of a hangar.
Some rigs have small "closing loops" which come free when the ripcord is
pulled. Make sure you gather up all the small parts and deliver them to your
rigger. Also, don't let anyone stand behind your rig when you pull the
ripcord. Some spring loaded pilot chutes launch with considerable force.

I'd also suggest that after you practice your clear and
pull, you bag the chute and lines in something clean (I
don't like plastic much so I use a white shopping bag with
handles.) I try to keep the lines separate from all the
Velcro to prevent them from being torn up by bagging them
and closing the Velcro up. It's also a good time to look it
over and get familiar with the parts you've never seen
before.

Todd Pattist
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
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