Parachute recommendations

On Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:33:41 -0700 (PDT), vontresc
wrote:

On Mar 17, 2:56*pm, Tuno wrote:
I also know of a least one very experienced jumper
who would never consider using a ram air emergency chute in a glider.

I am a very experienced jumper (known by Andy) and I would never
consider using anything BUT a ram air emergency chute in my glider.

With appropriate wing loading, of course!

2NO

So do you drop your water ballast before of after exiting the sticken
glider :-)

Depends on which water ballast you mean...

rj

On Mar 17, 9:40 pm, Darryl Ramm wrote:
On Mar 17, 7:03 pm, wrote:



On Mar 17, 4:59 pm, Tinwings wrote:

The P124 Aviator isn't a new design. It's been available for about 10
years. For whatever reason it hasn't seemed to catch on. Comfort might
be the reason. I tried one on and there was no way that you could lay
on it for any length of time. I suspect that this will be the case for
any ram air parachute packed in a bag type deployment system (all of
them). The deployment bag, and ram air canopy construction, simply
does not allow the rigger much latitude in how to distribute the
canopy material in the parachute container. The traditional round
parachute with a daiper type deployment system affords the rigger much
greater freedom in how to arrange the canopy in the container. The
result is a much more comfortable rig to lay on.
If the concern is lower descent rate, there is a round parachute that
you might consider - Free Flight Enterprises Preserve V canopy. It is
rated at (if I recall correctly) 254 lbs @ 180kts and has a descent
rate simillar to the P124 canopy. The Preserve V is certified FAA TSO
C23d and is available in the Paraphernalia Softie line of containers.
Allen Silver (Silver Parachute Sales) has jumped this canopy and can
testify to the low descent and quick opening.

I just took my rig to be repacked today. Being a tall heavy guy,
finding the thinnest rig with adequate descent rate that will allow me
to fit in the cockpit has been a challenge. I currently have a Wedge
Softie with a Performance Design P-235 square canopy. My previous rig
was a Wedge Softie with a round Preserve III canopy that I sold after
being asked time after time by my rigger if I had a desire to be a
lawn dart! I will vouch for the change in comfort mentioned by
Tinwings. Unlike the Preserve III, the P-235 is stuffed into the
container like 10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound sack. I thought it
would be a problem in the glider but it hasn't really been that bad
and I don't regret making the change.

The PD P-235 Owner's Manual is interesting reading. Particularly the
"Deployment Body Position and Airspeed" and Repack Cycle Sections.
See:http://www.performancedesigns.com/do...rve_manual.pdf

I am also working with the rigger to come with acceptable methods to
mount survival gear, such as a PLB and other stuff, on the rig. The
last thing we came up with was to mount a pouch on the chest strap and
put everything in that. Not much room to mount things at any other
place on the harness. If anyone has recommendations for making sure
all the necessary gear bails out with you, please post them.

Steve

Your rigger should talk to my rigger... Look at Allen Silver's large
SMAK pack (seehttp://www.silverparachutes.com/smak_pak.html), this
will hold a harness/shroud cutter on the outside, fit a 406 MHz PLB
inside, and current versions have a small internal pocked to hold a
small signal mirror, "Spark-Lite" fire starter, and whistle. I use a
McMurdo PLB in mine and I believe the ACR models will fit as well.

Since I missed all the space in my long-softie to stow survival gear I
also had Allen sew three large horizontal pockets onto the inside of
the sheep skin pad on my mini-softie. The pockets have one side end
open that seals with a velcro closure These hold sectional charts/
road maps, a spare hat (I'm follically challenged), large pocket
knife, a large signal mirror, small compass, very basic first aid gear
(squishy stuff that will pack flat), allergy meds, large unfolded
space blanket, ... needs careful packing to get comfortable.

Spare eye glasses, retainer strap, cell phone, and my wallet go into
the velcro closed front pockets on my North Face cargo pants I wear
when flying. I hope that velcro stays closed if the worse ever
happens.

BTW Paraphernalia makes a "survival" parachute that has space inside
to pack survival gear, I believe they sell very few if any of them.

Cheers

Darryl

Darryl and others,

Thanks for the tips. The SMAK pack sounds like what my rigger said he
was going to fab up for my rig. We looked at putting some of the stuff
on a riser but I need to have the gear available for my paraglider and
other activities.
Glider annual and W&B this weekend and I'll be ready for the season!
Steve