When to get a parachute?

I will be starting glider flying lessons this year once the weather warms up sufficiently, and am wondering at what point I should consider getting a parachute. I also plan to get my own glider, hopefully sooner than later, but will obviously need to be a certified glider pilot before that happens. I'm a fairly tall guy, so when shopping for a glider, I expect I will need to "try a few on". I plan to fly my own ship with a parachute, so that will be important to wear one when I sit in the cockpit. So the question comes up if and when I will need my own parachute. Maybe I'm jumping the gun here with this question? Thanks.

The club I am in has six parachutes so there’s always one available.. I just bought a 1/2 share in a glider and it came with a parachute. So yeah you would probably be jumping the gun to buy a parachute.

Only one of my seven gliders (the first) came with a parachute, but you
could certainly ask the seller to let you try sitting in the glider of
choice wearing his parachute if it's not included in the deal.Â* BTW, you
don't need to be a certificated pilot to own an aircraft but it /would/
seem silly to buy one without a license.Â* It might be difficult to find
a CFIG who would sign you off to solo in something he's not flown with
you in.

On 1/14/2018 9:52 PM, Charles Longley wrote:
The club I am in has six parachutes so there’s always one available. I just bought a 1/2 share in a glider and it came with a parachute. So yeah you would probably be jumping the gun to buy a parachute.

--
Dan, 5J

I agree; you can put off that decision. I'm a tall pilot, too, and each glider is different. If the chute is critical to helping you fit into the cockpit comfortably, the critical factor could be thickness at the top of the pack, thickness at the bottom of the pack, how flexible the pack is, etc. Or it may not be critical at all. Plenty of time to figure out what you need later.

Chip Bearden

On Monday, January 15, 2018 at 1:29:23 PM UTC-5, wrote:
I agree; you can put off that decision. I'm a tall pilot, too, and each glider is different. If the chute is critical to helping you fit into the cockpit comfortably, the critical factor could be thickness at the top of the pack, thickness at the bottom of the pack, how flexible the pack is, etc. Or it may not be critical at all. Plenty of time to figure out what you need later.

Chip Bearden

Agree. Once you get a glider, ask to borrow a chute from others at the airport to see if you and it 'get along'. I've loaned mine for others to try for a flight - you will quickly find that some you don't like.

I have to respectfully disagree with Dan. I purchased my PW-5 and my parachute before - yep before - I soloed. (As did one of our CFIGs when he started soaring.)

I had a lot of encouragement from many club members. Once you purchase your own glider, you are committed to complete your licence

It was one of the best decisions I ever made. After 6 solo flights in our club ASK-21, I got signed off to fly the PW-5 solo. (The PW-5 is much easier to fly than the ASK-21). After that, I was able to complete the required flights to take the check rides for my PPG quickly. No waiting in line for club ships.

If the right opportunity comes along, and you are willing to make the commitment, I'd go for it!

Lou

To those that assume that there is "only" one packing method for a backpack type parachute, I recommend contacting the manufacturer and talk to your rigger. Many backpack 'chutes can be packed in a number of ways that do not inhibit normal deployment, but accommodate different body shapes. Specifically, packing methods may allow for more or less shoulder width, shorter or longer legs with wide shoulders, additional lumbar support and so on. Needless to say, these alternate packing procedures should be done by a very experienced parachute rigger with authorized guidance from the manufacturer of your specific parachute and container.

Many riggers and "packers" are veering away from repacking the typical "round" canopies, simply because of the demand. Once the FAA went from a 120 day pack cycle to the current 180 day period, a lot of riggers just decided the limited number wasn't worth the effort. Or they upped their prices 30%to make up for the shortfall in income.

On Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 11:34:16 PM UTC-5, John Foster wrote:
So the question comes up if and when I will need my own parachute.

The consensus in the USA seems to be that student pilots and flight instructors don't need to wear parachutes. That said, parachutes are standard equipment for all glider training flights in much of the world.

I don't think anyone will stop you from wearing your own parachute on a training flight, I've seen people do it in the USA. But if you're in the front seat of a tandem glider, and your instructor is not wearing a parachute, you'll want to think twice about bailing out. If you bail out, and the instructor stays in the backseat, the weight and balance will probably go aft out of limits, and a damaged glider that might have been somewhat controllable, will become less controllable.

People have successfully land gliders that were damaged by midair collisions, or in other scenarios choosen to land gliders when a bailout was an available option.

Bruno Vassel retells the story of a parachute wearing pilot that landed after the stick broke off in his hand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF0tTzvU8IM&t=1s

I see your point there son of flubber, but no offense, if I am in the front seat of a two place glider and someguy midairs us and takes off a wing or elevator and I have a chute and altitude, I am outta there and the guy in the back seat is on his own! Lol

On Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 5:35:15 PM UTC-7, wrote:
I see your point there son of flubber, but no offense, if I am in the front seat of a two place glider and someguy midairs us and takes off a wing or elevator and I have a chute and altitude, I am outta there and the guy in the back seat is on his own! Lol

Hmm, not sure that is the right attitude to have. Assess the situation first.

1) Gliders that have been involved in mid-air collisions that caused significant damage to wings and horizontal stabilizers have been known to be flown safely to the ground.
a. ASG-29 in Uvalde, Lost half elevator and horizontal stabilizer, landed in a field, pilot didnt know what he had lost until walking around the aircraft.
b. Cant remember the aircraft types, but believe it was Parowan, two aircraft collided in a thermal, came back and landed with significant damage.

I am not saying don't jump out. I am saying that not every incident of swapping paint and fiberglass (or metal, or carbon fiber) has to result in an immediate bailout. We are aviators and are capable of handling emergencies in a safe and effective manner.

2) Not sure why one person would wear a chute but the other wouldn't. In your scenario of leaving the guy in the back seat behind, you are likely the cause of his death, not the hypothetical mid-air. If the aircraft were still flyable but you immediately jumped out from the front seat, the CG would likely exceed aft limits and become uncontrollable. With you in the front seat the aircraft may still be controllable.

Parachutes are not always the answer to a problem or emergency. This is the main reason I dislike the Cirrus SR-20/SR-22. (I used to teach in these.) Pilots become reliant upon the fact that they have a parachute and substitute good judgement and planning for it.

Parachutes are an absolute last resort. That is not to say you shouldn't use it when you need it, however if the situation permits, take a moment to assess what you still have and what you have lost.

Fly the plane first!!!