On Feb 9, 6:17*pm, Eric Greenwell wrote:
On 2/9/2011 12:05 PM, Andy wrote:

On Feb 9, 12:49 pm, Eric *wrote:
Or maybe the BRS deploys completely, but the glider attitude is making
everything gyrate so badly that it's going to be a really, really bad
"touchdown".

Or maybe the deployed BRS catches another glider that was nearby,
enveloping the canopy and preventing that pilot from getting out.
You'd want to land safely under your own canopy so you could deal with
the lawyers representing the widow of the other pilot.

Ok, maybe a bit extreme, but has anyone advocating BRS in gliders
actually considered the risk of deploying one in a large gaggle. A
free falling pilot has, by default, cleared the air the personal chute
will deploy into. *Not so with a BRS.

OK, there your are, upside down, half a wing missing, on your way down
through a gaggle of 20 gliders. Is it better to pop the BRS right away
(maybe get someone with your chute), or wait till you are below the
gaggle (maybe hit someone(s) at high speed on your way down)?

Even sitting here, safe and sound, I can't imagine what the best plan
would be, so it may be premature to suggest deploying a BRS in the
middle of a gaggle is riskier to the rest of the gaggle than an
out-of-control, tumbling glider.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

Agree with Darryl that anyone expecting a BRS to save them will pull
the handle as soon as possible. The difference with an out of control
glider falling through a gaggle is that it may be possible to avoid
it. Also, if there is a collision with that out of control falling
glider the hit pilot stands a reasonable chance of bailing out if not
incapacitated by a direct hit to the cockpit. If a glider ahead and
below deploys a BRS you won't stand a chance of avoiding it and, if
the canopy envelopes the cockpit, I doubt it would be possible to get
out.

Andy