Egress from 1-26

[KAIO]

I'm thinking of buying a parachute for using in a 1-26. I was not able to find any instance of bailout from a 1-26 in the NTSB database. is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight? Can the 1-26 canopy be ejected?

I know that almost anyone who flies a 1-26 does so without wearing a parachute, so I don't want to discuss the relative merits of having one available (I obviously think wearing a parachute is always a good idea). Just who practical is it.

Any pilot who flies 1-26s wearing parachutes?

Thanks!!!!

[Clif McVay]

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:22:56 AM UTC-4, KAIO wrote:
> I'm thinking of buying a parachute for using in a 1-26. I was not able to find any instance of bailout from a 1-26 in the NTSB database. is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight? Can the 1-26 canopy be ejected?
>
> I know that almost anyone who flies a 1-26 does so without wearing a parachute, so I don't want to discuss the relative merits of having one available (I obviously think wearing a parachute is always a good idea). Just who practical is it.
>
> Any pilot who flies 1-26s wearing parachutes?
>
> Thanks!!!!

Canopy ejection involves removing the two hing pins. If well maintained and installed correctly they "should" come out easy. (I've never tried it in flight.)

Most 1-26 canopies have a lanyard line to keep the canopy from opening too far when getting in or out.
An ejected canopy attached by such a lanyard could stay attached and present a serious problem.
I use a carabiner clip on my lanyard for a quick disconnect - but only for removing the canopy on the ground.

I do not wear a parachute in a 1-26.

[KAIO]

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 11:26:20 AM UTC-4, Clif McVay wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:22:56 AM UTC-4, KAIO wrote:
> > I'm thinking of buying a parachute for using in a 1-26. I was not able to find any instance of bailout from a 1-26 in the NTSB database. is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight? Can the 1-26 canopy be ejected?
> >
> > I know that almost anyone who flies a 1-26 does so without wearing a parachute, so I don't want to discuss the relative merits of having one available (I obviously think wearing a parachute is always a good idea). Just who practical is it.
> >
> > Any pilot who flies 1-26s wearing parachutes?
> >
> > Thanks!!!!
>
> Canopy ejection involves removing the two hing pins. If well maintained and installed correctly they "should" come out easy. (I've never tried it in flight.)
>
> Most 1-26 canopies have a lanyard line to keep the canopy from opening too far when getting in or out.
> An ejected canopy attached by such a lanyard could stay attached and present a serious problem.
> I use a carabiner clip on my lanyard for a quick disconnect - but only for removing the canopy on the ground.
>
> I do not wear a parachute in a 1-26.

Thanks. I figure that the loops at the end of the hinges could be used to eject the canopy. The issue is that, as you point out, there are other points of attachment: the canopy latch and the strong lanyard. Since those three items securing the canopy will need to be pulled in sequence, the chances of doing so successfully are very low.

Thanks again for your help.

[[email protected]]

Regarding bailing out of a 1-26, many years ago, one of our club founders, Ed Seymour bailed out of a 1-26 after trying to do a roll and damaging a wing. He was almost hit by the spinning 1-26 after bailing out. Ed lived to tell about it so it can be done.

I have not tried this in flight, but if you release the 1-26 canopy latch and raise the canopy it may stay over to the side and allow egress from the 1-26. This can be done in a 2-33. After releasing the canopy latch, the 2-33 canopy will stay open to the side with no glider control problems. Ed Seymour would demonstrate this to students during instructional flights. As one of Ed Seymour's students I can attest that this demonstration keeps you wide awake.

Chuck Zabinski
"ZC"

[kirk.stant]

What's the problem with just opening the canopy and climbing out? If you can get in on the ground, you should be able to get out in the air!

As for a chute - I've flown 1-26s both ways. I always wear a chute (paid for it, might as well use it!) in my own glider, but don't always bring it when I fly the club's 1-26.

But I sure like having it on!

Kirk
66

[Clif McVay]

I've never left an aircraft in flight and I hope I never experience the need. So my hypothetical, inexperienced thought experiments wonder if a canopy that can stay open in controlled flight will continue to behave while I try to exit the cockpit? Or might it suddenly try closing and knock me unconscious? Hmmm....?

[Renny[_2_]]

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 6:18:59 PM UTC-6, Clif McVay wrote:
> I've never left an aircraft in flight and I hope I never experience the need. So my hypothetical, inexperienced thought experiments wonder if a canopy that can stay open in controlled flight will continue to behave while I try to exit the cockpit? Or might it suddenly try closing and knock me unconscious? Hmmm....?

Clif,
I would not worry too much about getting out of a 1-26 in an emergency. Folks have exited all sorts of gliders in many different aircraft orientations, speeds, altitudes and with various types of canopies. Those that survived had one thing in common.....They all were wearing parachutes.

Without one you essentially have a zero chance of survival. Some folks, for whatever reason, could not get out and/or were incapacitated, and they did not survive, but with a parachute you will at least have a decent chance of survival.

Please, let's not over think this....Fly with a parachute!!! Consider it an insurance policy!!! ;-)

Thx - Renny

[Vaughn Simon[_2_]]

On 5/24/2016 10:22 AM, KAIO wrote:
> is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight?

Well, I've flown them, but never bailed out of one. I don't see why a
properly motivated pilot would have any particular problems though. If
it were me in a badly damaged I-26, I would certainly want the option to
try! One thing in your favor, your airspeed is likely to be low
compared to almost any other glider.

On the other hand, there is a case of a pilot walking away from a 1-26
crash after losing a wing at altitude! I'm obviously happy that it
turned out well, but doubtless that fellow was wishing for a chute all
the way down.

NTSB Identification: MIA97LA211
Accident occurred Saturday, July 12, 1997 in EUSTIS, FL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 02/02/1998
Aircraft: Schweizer SGS-1-26B, registration: N9927J
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

[[email protected]]

> Any pilot who flies 1-26s wearing parachutes?

Any pilot that flies in the 1-26 Championships and races wears a chute, and many others do also. I have flown in at least 10 Champs, (and they are a hoot!)

The biggest and most important thing is to have a PLAN ahead of time and mentally committed and motivated to leave the aircraft if need be. It is important to rehearse this at least mentally before flight just as you think through rope break options.

If you need to leave a 1-26 in flight I would open the canopy latch, so it does not bind, then pull the canopy pins and push the canopy away. Belts, then pull kick, push, ..... on anything you need to get out and pull the parachute handle. I have always imagined putting my hand under the instrument panel to give me a good pull if need be, then pushing with my legs. It does not matter what you break getting out, because once you make the decision to leave in flight, the glider belongs to the insurance company and you are fighting for your life.

From talking to others the key is to decide you need to get out and then do anything you need to to do so.

On Parachute choice, the back pack is probably the best, and the most common chute and also works well in other gliders if you fly something else.

Kevin Anderson
92

[ND]

once i was flying a 1-34 (similar canopy set-up of course) and the canopy came open in flight. at a normal flying speed (~60 mph)it broke the lanyard, took the canopy all the way around next to the side of the glider and smashed the glass. the hinges remained intact, but in that instance i could have pulled them if i needed to get rid of the frame. My assessment is that you could totally bail out the other side of the glider if you opened the canopy. the wind is going to take it pretty good so that's nothing to worry about.

On Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:22:56 AM UTC-4, KAIO wrote:
> I'm thinking of buying a parachute for using in a 1-26. I was not able to find any instance of bailout from a 1-26 in the NTSB database. is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight? Can the 1-26 canopy be ejected?
>
> I know that almost anyone who flies a 1-26 does so without wearing a parachute, so I don't want to discuss the relative merits of having one available (I obviously think wearing a parachute is always a good idea). Just who practical is it.
>
> Any pilot who flies 1-26s wearing parachutes?
>
> Thanks!!!!

[Jonathan St. Cloud]

If I recall correctly this 1-26 collided with a glass glider whose pilot did not get out. Goes to show if it is not your time...

On Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 6:36:41 AM UTC-7, Vaughn Simon wrote:
> On 5/24/2016 10:22 AM, KAIO wrote:
> > is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight?
>
> Well, I've flown them, but never bailed out of one. I don't see why a
> properly motivated pilot would have any particular problems though. If
> it were me in a badly damaged I-26, I would certainly want the option to
> try! One thing in your favor, your airspeed is likely to be low
> compared to almost any other glider.
>
> On the other hand, there is a case of a pilot walking away from a 1-26
> crash after losing a wing at altitude! I'm obviously happy that it
> turned out well, but doubtless that fellow was wishing for a chute all
> the way down.
>
> NTSB Identification: MIA97LA211
> Accident occurred Saturday, July 12, 1997 in EUSTIS, FL
> Probable Cause Approval Date: 02/02/1998
> Aircraft: Schweizer SGS-1-26B, registration: N9927J
> Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

[KAIO]

On Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 9:36:41 AM UTC-4, Vaughn Simon wrote:
> On 5/24/2016 10:22 AM, KAIO wrote:
> > is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight?
>
> Well, I've flown them, but never bailed out of one. I don't see why a
> properly motivated pilot would have any particular problems though. If
> it were me in a badly damaged I-26, I would certainly want the option to
> try! One thing in your favor, your airspeed is likely to be low
> compared to almost any other glider.
>
> On the other hand, there is a case of a pilot walking away from a 1-26
> crash after losing a wing at altitude! I'm obviously happy that it
> turned out well, but doubtless that fellow was wishing for a chute all
> the way down.
>
> NTSB Identification: MIA97LA211
> Accident occurred Saturday, July 12, 1997 in EUSTIS, FL
> Probable Cause Approval Date: 02/02/1998
> Aircraft: Schweizer SGS-1-26B, registration: N9927J
> Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

That is an amazing story!

[BobW]

On 5/25/2016 10:35 AM, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
> If I recall correctly this 1-26 collided with a glass glider whose pilot
> did not get out. Goes to show if it is not your time...
>
No other glider (or plane) involved. See the March, 1998 "Soaring" mag (online
archive for SSA members) for likely the most comprehensive
description/assessment you can find in print. Almost certainly loss of control
in inadvertent IMC, resulting in pulling a wing off. FWIW, this was the 2nd
known-to-me spun-to-the-ground w. pilot still on-board, non-fatal 1-26
crunch...though this one appears to have come to rest in mature pine trees.
The other one was atop a nekkid Appalachian ridge. Neither PIC - so far as I'm
aware - was wearing a 'chute. Some might infer from these data that 1-26's are
the safest glider in which to spin-in...

Bob W.

> On Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 6:36:41 AM UTC-7, Vaughn Simon wrote:
>> On 5/24/2016 10:22 AM, KAIO wrote:
>>> is is really possible, practicable, to egress a 1-26 in flight?
>>
>> Well, I've flown them, but never bailed out of one. I don't see why a
>> properly motivated pilot would have any particular problems though. If
>> it were me in a badly damaged I-26, I would certainly want the option to
>> try! One thing in your favor, your airspeed is likely to be low
>> compared to almost any other glider.
>>
>> On the other hand, there is a case of a pilot walking away from a 1-26
>> crash after losing a wing at altitude! I'm obviously happy that it
>> turned out well, but doubtless that fellow was wishing for a chute all
>> the way down.
>>
>> NTSB Identification: MIA97LA211 Accident occurred Saturday, July 12, 1997
>> in EUSTIS, FL Probable Cause Approval Date: 02/02/1998 Aircraft:
>> Schweizer SGS-1-26B, registration: N9927J Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
>

[[email protected]]

Does anyone know where to find the results of the Roger tests? I seem to recall they found that, lacking the Roger hook that was a result of the tests that with a side hinged canopy the best technique was to open it normally rather than try to jettison it by releasing both sides. I've seen three instances of side hinged canopies opening inadvertently in flight. Two times the restraining lanyard broke but the canopy stayed attached by the hinges and suffered some degree of damage. On the Twin Acro rear canopy the thin lanyard stayed intact, the eyebolt that attached it to the canopy stayed attached to the frame, the hinges stayed intact but the frame itself fractured and flew clear of the glider along with the canopy leaving only the section containing the hinge mounts and about a foot of the rear vertical part of the frame attached. None of those incidents led t the canopy acting in a way that would hinder emergency egress really.

I've flown 1-26's twice, wearing a chute both times. Never had to bail out though!