Aero addicts: chute or no chute?
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Thanks, IFR. The Chippy does indeed require FULL forward to recover from established spins - and it needs to be pushed, maybe 2 handed, beyond that 'false' forward stop caused by air loads, to the actual forward stop.
Any other tips? There's not much on the web on Chippy aeros. The aeroplane seems a pussycat to aerobat ( the above excepted) and the RAF have been doing it for years so there should be no surprises. But any wisdom gratefully received.
SSD
Any other tips? There's not much on the web on Chippy aeros. The aeroplane seems a pussycat to aerobat ( the above excepted) and the RAF have been doing it for years so there should be no surprises. But any wisdom gratefully received.
SSD
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The Chipmunk had anti-spin strakes added to the rear fuselage in RAF service to assist with the recovery if my memory serves me correctly...?
And regarding the parachute, someone above mentioned training. I remember well flying in Chippies are a humble (yeah, right!) Air Cadet and watching the "Jump, jump, John" cine movie of how to exit the aircraft safely (I bet that brings a few memories back!).
So with new passengers it's just a case of a thorough brief. That segment on the video only ran through it once.
1. Undo your harness, making sure it's only the one connecting you to the seat. (If they had to mention it, then it must have happened...)
2. Disconnect your bonedome R/T connection.
3. Open the air distrupting flap on the canopy.
4. Slide the canopy back all the way.
5. You'll be leaving to the left.
6. Stand up in your seat.
7. Turn around and step onto the trailing edge of the wing.
8. The next step should be into the gap, aiming about 3 foot behind the wing. Don't just jump from the standing start as you'll hit the tail.
9. During your ensuing descent, look for the D-ring. (Lots of gruesome stories about fingers worn away on webbing straps...)
10. PULL IT!!!!!
11. Knees together, legs bent, like jumping off a 12' wall.
How I remember this stuff I don't know. It's about 12 years since I saw it last.
But, I think (I hope!) it demonstrates that a full briefing will be remembered by your passengers...!
- It never really mentioned how a 4' cadet was supposed to turn around in their seat against the wind and then "step" onto the trailing edge of the wing, when they'd had to be lifted over the bloody side in the first place getting in!!
Still - it was great fun, I wonder if the Grobs today make you think it's proper RAF flying? There's something about taxying out in a tandem seater and doing aeros...!
And regarding the parachute, someone above mentioned training. I remember well flying in Chippies are a humble (yeah, right!) Air Cadet and watching the "Jump, jump, John" cine movie of how to exit the aircraft safely (I bet that brings a few memories back!).
So with new passengers it's just a case of a thorough brief. That segment on the video only ran through it once.
1. Undo your harness, making sure it's only the one connecting you to the seat. (If they had to mention it, then it must have happened...)
2. Disconnect your bonedome R/T connection.
3. Open the air distrupting flap on the canopy.
4. Slide the canopy back all the way.
5. You'll be leaving to the left.
6. Stand up in your seat.
7. Turn around and step onto the trailing edge of the wing.
8. The next step should be into the gap, aiming about 3 foot behind the wing. Don't just jump from the standing start as you'll hit the tail.
9. During your ensuing descent, look for the D-ring. (Lots of gruesome stories about fingers worn away on webbing straps...)
10. PULL IT!!!!!
11. Knees together, legs bent, like jumping off a 12' wall.
How I remember this stuff I don't know. It's about 12 years since I saw it last.
But, I think (I hope!) it demonstrates that a full briefing will be remembered by your passengers...!
- It never really mentioned how a 4' cadet was supposed to turn around in their seat against the wind and then "step" onto the trailing edge of the wing, when they'd had to be lifted over the bloody side in the first place getting in!!
Still - it was great fun, I wonder if the Grobs today make you think it's proper RAF flying? There's something about taxying out in a tandem seater and doing aeros...!
Join Date: Aug 1999
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HereI am writing this e-mail. I almost wasn't. Four years ago when practicing for a standard level comp in my Pitts (1000ft higher than comp hieghts) I screwed up a simple stall turn and ended in an inverted spin going down about 4000ft/min. I don't know why I couldn't recover as I appeared to be thinking slowly and logically, but as I was considering what to try next, I realised that I could see the individual leaves on the trees, so I decided to leave my Pitts to its own ideas. It was an open cockpit model, and I was thrown out quite violently at about 1200ft (estimate of a pilot witness) and the chute, an ex US airforce seat pack opened almost instantly and all was quiet and peaceful, and the landing was most gentle. All this happened in a very short time. The most relevant points were:- I had worn the chute in standard level comp for a good many years, and was prepared mentally and training wise to use it. As inverted spinning is not in standard level sequences, my training in inverted spinning was not up to scratch. Deliberately entering an inverted spin is totally different to suddenly finding yourself in one, and in a Pitts things happen very fast. Most aero pilots I know have horror stories of the time they were lucky to get away with it. Disaster can happen to anyone, regardless of experience, and it is only fair to yourself and your family to give yourself every chance. For aeros, wear a chute and know how to use it, it keeps the log book tidy, equal take-offs and landings.
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Great discussion you've started Paulo.
Parachutes are a must for higher level aeros IMHO - especially when you start your training in them and may be prone to falling out of manoeuvres. After that - its how you feel with the aircraft, I'm sure.
In the 2160 - with an instructor like the one I think you're talking about (I'm at the same school I think) - I'd be very happy to land in a field on top of this person (I'm not gay!)!
Seriously, many people wear parachutes in the 2160 (even given its excellent recovery and stability) and I believe it's compulsary in their higher level aircraft.
It's you're choice Paulo - I'm sure you're a big boy and can make you're own decisions (I've heard that rumour about you around the club room!)
Parachutes are a must for higher level aeros IMHO - especially when you start your training in them and may be prone to falling out of manoeuvres. After that - its how you feel with the aircraft, I'm sure.
In the 2160 - with an instructor like the one I think you're talking about (I'm at the same school I think) - I'd be very happy to land in a field on top of this person (I'm not gay!)!
Seriously, many people wear parachutes in the 2160 (even given its excellent recovery and stability) and I believe it's compulsary in their higher level aircraft.
It's you're choice Paulo - I'm sure you're a big boy and can make you're own decisions (I've heard that rumour about you around the club room!)
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I never had any jump training. I think you learn 'on the job', so to speak - it's very much a last resort.
It must be a very difficult descision to make, especially if you think you've just about recovered from whatever manouver went wrong. There must be a VERY strong temptation to think "I've got it now. Just a few more sec.." CRASH
It must be a very difficult descision to make, especially if you think you've just about recovered from whatever manouver went wrong. There must be a VERY strong temptation to think "I've got it now. Just a few more sec.." CRASH
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sunnyside - I'll play the gent and pretend i've got no idea what you're going on about with that forced landing malarky ;-)
Do you mean there's people at our club wearing chutes in the 2160?
Do you mean there's people at our club wearing chutes in the 2160?
