Parachutes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Suffolk
From BoeingBoy
No cigar I'm afraid. If we don't put the wings on right, they tend to fall off as soon as we get airborne, and thus far too low to use a parachute!
The main reason has already been stated - a much higher risk of mid-air collisions, at least for gliders taking part in competitions (where a gaggle of 50 in the same thermal would not be unknown).
Outside competitions this risk is much lower, and when I started flying gliders 11 years ago the majority didn't wear parachutes. A few years later the norm switched rapidly, and now almost all do wear parachutes. It helps that most glider cockpits are designed for a parachute-wearing pilot, and thus difficult to make comfortable if you're not wearing one. On top of that, as almost every glider now has a parachute (they tend to go with the aircraft, not the pilot), it seems a bit foolish not to wear it - one would feel so silly trying to put in an express order on the way down, and a high-density foam seat cushion is not really an adequate substitute.
Quote:
Why do glider pilots wear parachutes where GA pilots don't...???
Very simple.....They fasten their own wings on......we don't!
Why do glider pilots wear parachutes where GA pilots don't...???
Very simple.....They fasten their own wings on......we don't!
The main reason has already been stated - a much higher risk of mid-air collisions, at least for gliders taking part in competitions (where a gaggle of 50 in the same thermal would not be unknown).
Outside competitions this risk is much lower, and when I started flying gliders 11 years ago the majority didn't wear parachutes. A few years later the norm switched rapidly, and now almost all do wear parachutes. It helps that most glider cockpits are designed for a parachute-wearing pilot, and thus difficult to make comfortable if you're not wearing one. On top of that, as almost every glider now has a parachute (they tend to go with the aircraft, not the pilot), it seems a bit foolish not to wear it - one would feel so silly trying to put in an express order on the way down, and a high-density foam seat cushion is not really an adequate substitute.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: England
Ouch! I thought I was trying to say that a ppl pilot would probably not gain anything by wearing a parachute. You might have a slight chance of getting out of a Cessna but I doubt a PA 28. I have had training and have flown Chipmunk/Provost/ Hunter. Reading Gasil say, for the last five years, I think that perhaps one glider pilot parachuted out. Yak 52-- NIL. One third mechanical problems/landed safely,one third low level aeros, crashed and killed (often with rear seat pax), one third jammed controls, nobody got out.One of my associates was an Empire Test Pilot, and we have often discussed aero scenarios, ie inverted spinning. I don't take rear pax when I am playing.Oh, and I knew Neil Williams.
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 696
Likes: 0
From: Bracknell, UK
Agreed that a parachute is of little benefit to the occupants of the average GA touring aircraft. Aerobatic types designed with egress in mind are a different matter. You wouldn't condone keeping the seat pins in place in the JP or Hunter would you?. Still not clear why you would wear a parachute for intentional spinning, but not when an inadvertant spin is likely. Discussion of spin recovery is no substitute for practice - when was the last time you span the Yak inverted? (and as it happens, an associate of mine used to take his Cap 222 down to Boscombe for use by the school, but ceased to do so when it was damaged in the process....but I don't know if the handling pilot subsequently graduated). 
Last edited by eharding; 6th April 2008 at 22:27.
Joined: Sep 2001
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 206
From: Toronto
The manual for many single seat gliders state that a parachute is part of the certification basis.
The CG arm for the pilot commonly assumes a parachute.
Gliders commonly specify minimum weights for the pilot and if you happen to be that light and are not wearing a parachute, the CG is too far back -- and if you do not pay careful attention to the CG the first time, you will find out very quickly when you lift off on tow
The CG arm for the pilot commonly assumes a parachute.
Gliders commonly specify minimum weights for the pilot and if you happen to be that light and are not wearing a parachute, the CG is too far back -- and if you do not pay careful attention to the CG the first time, you will find out very quickly when you lift off on tow
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: uk
quoting mixture on the reliability and use of a chute at low altitudes...
Skydiving rigs are very different to emergency rigs. My skydiving main chute is packed for comfort in terminal velocity coditions. A reserve or a chute designed for emergencies only is packed for reliability and also sprint loaded to be effective in less than 500 ft. They have been know to often work in even less. The chances of a reserve or emergent chute failure or absolutly tiny. Like your literally more likely to get run over by bus.
Hope this helps some of u to make the leap
Skydiving rigs are very different to emergency rigs. My skydiving main chute is packed for comfort in terminal velocity coditions. A reserve or a chute designed for emergencies only is packed for reliability and also sprint loaded to be effective in less than 500 ft. They have been know to often work in even less. The chances of a reserve or emergent chute failure or absolutly tiny. Like your literally more likely to get run over by bus.
Hope this helps some of u to make the leap
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 696
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From: Bracknell, UK
Originally Posted by northcave
The chances of a reserve or emergent chute failure or absolutly tiny. Like your literally more likely to get run over by bus.
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: BERKSHIRE
Ouch! I thought I was trying to say that a ppl pilot would probably not gain anything by wearing a parachute
When I did Yak52 training in Russia in '93 first day was spent how to exit aircraft with chute.
