Interesting discussion. I have a limited number of the inflatable cushions that Harry mentions, made to a high standard by my sons. 0417 447 974 if you want one. All the best, Paul Mander
On 26 October 2017 at 10:42, harry medlicott <hw.medlic...@optusnet.com.au> wrote: > > Hi All, > > Much has been usefully written about parachutes and their care. How would > you like a few reluctant comments from someone who has used one to save > ones life? > > Firstly, exiting from a disabled glider descending at 100 feet per second > ( as recorded by the data logger) is totally different from a jumping from > a stable platform in level flight. > > After finally exiting the glider I found myself rotating as in a spin > dryer. The chute, although attached as one normally would, moved around > violently making finding the D ring difficult and is was necessary to look > carefully for it. I would recommend that a pilot get a hand on the D ring > as he was exiting. > > On exiting I remembered to adopt a position with the arms and legs > outstretched and wait until ones position stabilized. Quickly realized > that I would reach the ground before this happened due to the violent > rotation. My understanding now is that it is best to pull the D ring as > soon as you are clear of the glider. > > Exiting a glider while it is unstable and you are probably subject to G > forces can be quite difficult. If moving the control column forward inverts > the glider a good chance you will fall out. > > A recommendation I have heard is if it appears you will reach the ground > before exiting is to lean forward and pull the D ring. A good chance the > chute will pull you from the glider. > > The statistics are that 50% of uninjured glider pilots successfully deploy > their chute when the accident occurs at 3,000 ft. Below this the chances > diminish rapidly. Age also plays apart. I now have an inflatable bag > underneath me, economically supplied by Paul Mander. Commercial units, > although expensive are available. ( how much would you be prepared to pay > as you struggle to exit a glider) > > Prevention is better than cure. A functioning Flarm and even more > importantly, a disciplined lookout are prerequisites to flying safely. > Competition conditions which reduce gaggling also reduce the chances of a > midair collision. > > These comments are quite apart from the usual advice given to pilots re > exiting a glider when it is disabled. I hope they are of interest > > Harry Medlicott > > > > > > > > > > > On 25/10/2017 7:14 PM, Mike Borgelt wrote: > > Here's the story on the National Parachutes we've sold for the last 28 > years. > > They are lightweight and comfortable and while some details have changed > they are the same basic design/size/weight in all that time > > The factory considers a life of 20 years is reasonable and won't repack > them after that but your rigger can inspect the parachute and can return it > to service if it is in his/her opinion revealed to be in airworthy > condition as THERE IS NO LIFE LIMITING AD ON NATIONAL > > PARACHUTES. > > National parachutes also come in 4 canopy sizes to suit all weights of > pilots. The N360 is suitable for up to 75 Kg pilots, the N425 up to 95Kg, > the National Flat to 100Kg and the N490 to 110Kg. > > While National chute packs are available in Navy, Black and Red we > recommend the Black or Navy as the colours seem more durable. > > The condition of the parachute depends on use and care. In a 7 day > commercial operation it is doubtful if a parachute will last 20 years. In > private operation where the thing is unlikely to do more than 2000 hours in > actual use and you keep it in a bag until ready to wear > > and put it back in the bag after wearing it will likely be fine. Consider > also that the parachute may be stored in a dry cupboard for some years of > that time and is probably flown for only half the year or a bit more. Hard > calender life limits are stupid. > > Yes, probably parachutes aren't taken seriously enough by glider pilots. > Is there any proper training done, like before the first lesson in a > glider? We've seen people wearing National chutes where the leg straps > weren't tightened and the chest strap was a "chin" strap. > > Too bad about your head when you pull the ripcord but your headless body > should make it to the ground just fine. > > Also asked competition pilots what they will do if they hear a bang and > the glider pitches down and doesn't respond to the elevator. The first went > and bought a new parachute and rehearsed the bailout procedure and admitted > he hadn't paid any attention to that before. > > The second was a real smartarse and laughed it off by making a joke of it > to cover up his lack of forethought and preparation. > > Do remember that bailing out of a damaged glider is "attempted suicide to > avoid certain death". The US military reckoned the ejection seat in the > F-15 saved the pilot's life 75% of the time it was used. The outstanding > Russian K36D seat was better at 93%. > > I'm pretty sure gliding is somewhere between those numbers. > > Mike > > > > > > > > > At 05:41 PM 10/25/2017, you wrote: > > Point taken. > I have the highest regard for Nigel Brennan. If he says the chute is ok > I am happy to wear it. > > On Wed, Oct 25, 2017 at 6:28 PM, Ron Sanders <resand...@gmail.com> wrote: > Do you mind if i forward your comments to Mr Nigel Brennan who re packed > and inspected the chute?? > > Ron > > On 25 October 2017 at 13:52, DMcD <slutsw...@gmail.com> wrote: > >>Hi guys, do not bother sold in 6 minutes!! > > Lets hope the buyer does not have to use it! > > Hang glider parachutes have a slightly harder time than glider > parachutes, partially because the pack is less dense and lets in more > UV, though many parachute manufacturers wrap the parachute inside a > foil folder to help protect it. The fabric is also degraded by sweat > and other factors. Some fabric and some colours degrade much faster > than others too. What colour is your chute? Is it nice and bright so > it can be spotted easily in the air or on the ground or have you ever > looked? > > I don't think most of us take parachutes particularly seriously > enough. For example, your parachute size should be related to several > factors, including your age and weight. Most parachute sizes are for > young people weighing an ISO standard 75 kgs who can jump off a 4 > metre wall and not suffer any injury. And you? > > The older you are and the heavier you are, the larger the area of your > canopy needs to be. Of course, there's a trade off in that larger > canopies open more slowly, so the older you are, the higher you need > to be to safely deploy your canopy. > > I guess it is like Harley riders. They wear poor quality open face > helmets to protect poor quality brains. > > "I'm a licensed rigger. In my experience, the life will be limited > primarily > by how much direct sunlight, dust, and grit the parachute sees. If you > take > good care of the canopy and container, and keep the system out of the > direct > sunlight, it'll last quite a while. Other responders have suggested a > practical life span of 15-20 years, and that's not too bad a range, IMHO. > However, if the system has been abused, it could be unusable after just a > few > years. > > Pay attention to the harness too, as it tends to suffer from abrasion and > from > the pilot's sweat. It's not that unusual to see harnesses and containers > that > become unusable before the canopy." > > "In the UK the parachute manufacturers and riggers are not allowed to > re-pack parachutes over 25 years old. ie once over 25 years, you have to > throw it away...... in any event most parachutes that age that I have > seen are big, heavy, and very uncomfortable to wear. " > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au > http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring > > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au > http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au > http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring > > *Borgelt Instruments* - > *design & manufacture of quality soaring instrumentation since 1978 * > www.borgeltinstruments.com > tel: 07 4635 5784 overseas: int+61-7-4635 5784 > mob: 042835 5784 : int+61-42835 5784 > P O Box 4607, Toowoomba East, QLD 4350, Australia > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing > listaus-soar...@lists.base64.com.auhttp://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring > > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.base64.com.au > http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring > >
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