Ballistic Chute vs. Conventional Chute

[Loco]

hi guys

what's the pro's & cons vs. a fixed ballistic chute (fixed to the plane) vs. conventional chute (you wear it like a back-pack)?

cost?
it seems the ballistic chute is about R30k and you have to get it repacked every couple of years for R7k if you're lucky?
how much would it cost to get a conventional chute, go for training/licensing to be allowed to use it properly?
ongoing maintenance cost?

convenience?
obviously the ballistic chute is more convenient as it's fixed to the plane...

low level deployment?
which one can be deployed the lowest? ballistic seems the winner here...

weight?
which one would weigh the least?

weight restriction for the pilot?
apparently conventional chutes only allow for pilots less than 100kg?

overall damage to plane?
here the ballistic obviously wins hands down

other???

cheers
ant

[bobthebuilder]

Apart from the skydivers who jump from trikes, I have never heard of a trike pilot wearing a parachute.

[Loco]

i mailed a guy that's into parachuting and got some very interesting/useful info:

It would be really beneficial if you do the first jump course at any dropzone.
http://www.jsc.co.za is the closest dropzone to Johannesburg / Pretoria that offers the static line course.

In the course they teach you all you need to know about flying and landing a parachute, and the price of R1220 includes your first static line jump. The parachute is attached to the plane and opens as you exit.
You can then continue the skydiving progression [should you choose to] for R340 per jump, which includes gear rental & repack.

That’ll give you the flying a parachute (or canopy as we refer to them) experience, so that’s one thing less to worry about if you ever need it in an emergency.

That said, there’s quite a big difference between a skydiving rig and a pilot rig.
In skydiving, we have 2 parachutes in the container. A main and a reserve. In the event that something goes wrong with the main, we release the main canopy and deploy the reserve. We have enough altitude to do this, since we deploy the main above 3000 ft agl.

With a pilot rig, you only have one canopy however, since you will most likely be too low to deploy a reserve as well. It’s also a lot more comfortable.
You are looking for something like this: http://parachuteshop.com/Softie%20Parachutes.htm

I would recommend looking for a second-hand one somewhere. Piloting blogs would be the best, but you can also post an entry on the JSC email list .
http://www.jsc.co.za/join_listserv.asp
Someone will definitely have one, or be able to point you in the right direction.

I still recommend doing the first jump course though. It’ll give you exposure to what you will experience if you ever have to land a parachute.

[gertcoetzee]

I would think the only scenario you would like to use the chute is when the wing has failed. I cannot imagine that it would be possible to jump from the tumbling trike, and have my doubts whether one would be able to activate the ballistic chute - my pull lever is below my seat, on the right, and I just hope when I need it I will overcome the G's and get to the damn thing.

On this forum over the years only two successful deployments of ballistic chutes have been mentioned, and both from stable trikes, with (a) bad terrain and (b) disorientation in a still flying trike.

[The Big V]

My instructor reckons that by the time you've (a) realised you've got a problem that requires the deployment of a chute (b) switched of the engine and waited for the prop to stop turning and (c) actually deployed the chute, all that it actually does is cover up the mess . So in his opinion a chute's not worth the cost and maintenance. But I'm sure somebody whose life has been saved by one will think differently.

[bobthebuilder]

I gives you one extra option that you wouldn't have had if the chute wasn't fitted.

Massimo pulled his a few years back when he had an engine failure over rough terrain.
If he had tried to land there, he probably would have sustained some painfull injuries, and the damage to the trike may have been more severe.

[WhiteEagle]

Saw a video on youtube of a ballistic chute on a trike accidentally deployed the moment before rotation, it flipped the trike immediately backwords and nosedived into the ground, if the pilot survived, dunno?

[bobthebuilder]

I have that clip. Is there a way of posting it?

[WhiteEagle]

I use File to Link (filetolink.com), upload the video, mail it to yourself and you have the link to copy and paste.

[John.com]

Here is the clip . . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVq_uqzgax8

[kloot piloot]

Bobthe builder :

Apart from the skydivers who jump from trikes, I have never heard of a trike pilot wearing a parachute.

Sailplane-, hang glider- and paraglider pilots all wear back-up chutes. They are very small and will save your life, but might break an ankle.

They are in general inverted apex canopies and some strap to your back, others are integral to the harness or wing. Starting prices are from R 4 000.00 with yearly re-packs at R 300.00. It is better than nothing and if it helps to console the mind, then why not !

Learn to do a parachute roll at a local club and it might be a saver.

Having said this, a chute deployed incorrectly may make things very bad.

[Tailspin]

The problem with a Conventional Chute is that you need to be clear of the aircraft, this means you need a couple hundred feet as you need to exit the trike Clear of the wires etc.
Ballistic Chute is better and they can save your life from 50 up (the more expensive ones are from 50 feet).

I would not risk a Conventional Chute in a trike.

[Aerosan]

Having been in a aircraft hurtling to mother earth I can safely say that there is no chance whatsoever of you exiting the plane and then deploying said parashute Im not sure but recon Duccie can back me up on that one.We had just taken of wre about 200ft (more depending where you measure from ) when it all happend and there was just enough time for us to do tha basics.

We survived and are here to tell the tale. Im convinced If we were to try and get out the door we would not have made it.

Time from the moment popo hit the fan till we made dust clouds-----------14 seconds.

[Abe]

Hi Aerosan, thankful that you are still with us...
200ft is ample for deployment of GRS, their specs say 60m for the 5 and 6 series but they have reports of saves much lower.
Also about ballistic chutes specifically for GRS owners:
I am getting a batch of GRS together for repacking. Whether I send one or two back to the factory, airfreight cost is much the same.
But the more I can import back together, the lower the share of each of the expensive importation costs. Dangerous goods declarations, Police permits, freight only aircraft, storage at Guardforce (5 hours to extricate...)
Owners of GRS due for service, please call.
FlySafe!
Abe
0829260585.

[Loco]

Hi Aerosan, thankful that you are still with us...
200ft is ample for deployment of GRS, their specs say 60m for the 5 and 6 series but they have reports of saves much lower.
Also about ballistic chutes specifically for GRS owners:
I am getting a batch of GRS together for repacking. Whether I send one or two back to the factory, airfreight cost is much the same.
But the more I can import back together, the lower the share of each of the expensive importation costs. Dangerous goods declarations, Police permits, freight only aircraft, storage at Guardforce (5 hours to extricate...)
Owners of GRS due for service, please call.
FlySafe!
Abe
0829260585.

Hi Abe, after how many years do you have to re-pack? Thanks