Originally Posted by
Just This Once...
Bigpants, I think you will have to justify why flying with safety equipment is silly. The Tutor was criticised for the design of the canopy system when a cadet was unable to bailout and use his parachute. The glider pilot the Tutor hit did managed to leave his aircraft and parachute to safety. Presumably your attitude to parachutes dates from The Great War?
1. The Tutor never underwent a full Boscombe Down evaluation which would have highlighted the problem of the canopy arch.
2. The midair you quote was caused because a medically unfit officer with a fused spine was allowed to fly the Tutor and he was unable to look out properly.
3. You point out the glider pilot was able to bailout while ignoring the fact that the cadet was briefed on how to escape from the aircraft with parachute yet was unable to do so.
Remove the bonedome.....btw have you heard about the Prefect Problem....let pilots and cadets fly with a soft headset and leave the parachute at home for cadet flying. Keep the option of wearing a parachute for SCT exercises like spinning.