When to get a parachute?

I had two friends who should have jumped - but didn't or left it too late

Sierra Wiskey, re read my quote "take off a wing or clip an elevator".... these are from personal experience. My brother had his elevator clipped in a ventus by a guy who was careless in a gaggle. The ventus elevator was jammed in the full up position and I watched from the ground as my bro's ship started a series of very high speed loops at very low altitude. If jim had hessitated in any way, he would be dead now. As it was, he had a very hard time exiting due to the high G's. He got out, popped chute, the chute had just enough time to fully expand before my bro contacted the ground. My bro was all cut up from having to kick out the plexiglass as the G's were holding the plexiglass from departing and as he kicked it out the shards slammed into his face.

I agree with you, "aviate" first, if you have some semblance of control, fly the plane, but you better make that determination FAST depending on altitude. That is not the time for dottling or indecision.

Yes, it would be a rare situation where one guy has a chute and one doesn't in a two place ship, but if one guy is wearing a chute, its up to the other guy to insure his own survival. If I saw a guy wearing a chute, I think I would go and find one myself before I jumped in the back seat.
Dan