On Jan 19, 9:35*pm, Sparkorama
wrote:
I'm just getting back into the sport after a long hiatus. I've seen that
a lot of glider pilots fly with parachutes (ones they wear) and I have
seen Ballistic Recovery System parachutes in planes as well. From my
layman's view, it appears that getting out of a plane using a
traditional chute after a mid-air collision seems exceedingly difficult
and time-consuming. On the other hand, BRS chutes seem to deploy very
fast and can be deployed very close to the ground. They can lower the
entire plane safely to the ground in almost any terrain, and a few
bruises to your bird or your body seems a lot better than certain death
if you can't get out of a plane after a mid-air. So if this is true, and
I am happy to say I am no expert, then why isn't everyone using these
things? I think they should be mandatory in every new glider built.
Thoughts?
Spark

--
Sparkorama

You say you are no expert yet you think they should be mandatory in
every new glider built. I find that to be a paradox.

Would it not make more sense to familiarize yourself with the subject
before deciding what should be mandatory?

Previously cited factors have included increased weight, increased
cost, lack of adequate test data, insufficient space and probably a
few more.

I was interested in BRS when it was offered as an option for the
ASW-28. It seems the brochure writer was ahead of the designer and
the option was never made available.

Andy