collapsible pilot chute poll (see first post.)

[Steel 0]

Of course this poll is only meaningful if your flying something at least under 100 squarefeet. The question is if you ever had a pilot chute not collapse for reasons other than a broken kill line. And the other part of the question is if you had a noncollapsed pilot chute would you choose to land it if you discovered the problem while you were still high enough to safely cut away and go to your reserve.

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

I can't believe that anyone would consider cutting away just because their pilot chute would not collapse. If the drag created by your PC is enough to collapse your canopy, then I would say you have well exceeded your limit of advance when it comes to basic parachute safety. Seriously. I jump very small mains as compared to the general skydiving population; both are sub-100, but I am positive that I could easily land either of them with an inflated PC on a straight-in approach. I know that your 55 would probably be more affected by an inflated PC, but then I wouldn't be jumping that main for anything other than just a one-time "I did it" novelty. If it's truly that big of a concern, then I think I would probably jump a removable system or just a disposable system.

Derek jumps a heavily loaded VX, so I want to hear what he thinks as well.

Chuck

[Ron 10]

Oh good god!

You would cut away a non-collapsed PC?

That is so fu(king stupid.

There would be no danger in landing a non-collapsed PC.

The very small fraction of speed loss, and distortion it would be stupid to cut it away.

Ever hear of a CONTROLABILITY check?????

You would cut away a safe canopy to land for "whats behind handle #2?

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Steel 0]

I could easily land either of them with an inflated PC on a straight-in approach. I know that your 55 would probably be more affected by an inflated PC, but then I wouldn't be jumping that main for anything other than just a one-time "I did it" novelty. If it's truly that big of a concern, then I think I would probably jump a removable system or just a disposable system.
------------------------------------------
I had it happen on my saturday evening jump. It happened because of a knot on my bridle(like a half-hitch) that somehow was created on opening. The pilot chute created enough drag to stall my center cell and partially stall the next two but I was able to fly it straight and minimally flare it, so I landed it and I don't regret it. Still, it was not an easy decision. I had plenty of altitude to cut it away when I discovered it and I considered it but I chose to land it.
Actually I thought about the removeable pilot chute but then figured that if I had a removeable pilot chute which would be attached to the slider then the slider would have never come down and it would have been a definite cut away.

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[faulknerwn 38]

It can quite effect a canopy though - you'd be surprised. I voted to not chop it but I'll tell my story :-)

I had swapped a Triathalon 99 I had several hundred jumps on into a new rig and the deployment bag had a bigger grommet on it I believe (I'm a tad fuzzy on the details). The first jump I noticed that the bag had slid all the way down to the pilot chute - so even though the pilot chute was collapsed - the bag caused some drag down there. I landed and the canopy stalled at my ears and I crashed backwards. I didn't put 2 and 2 together at that point, scratched my head a bit and jumped it a second time. Second jump the same thing happened. It was at this point I finally got my brain in gear and fixed the problem.

I was _quite_ surprised at how that much extra drag affected the stall point.

I've noticed recently that my landings on my CRW canopy (a Lightning 113) have improved enormously since I put a pilot chute killer on it. If my Cobalt 75 had a non-collapsed pc - I'd almost certainly land it, but I'd hope for wind and be extremely gentle on the controls.

[Hooknswoop 19]

Quote

Derek jumps a heavily loaded VX, so I want to hear what he thinks as well.

Definately land it. It would be different, but no big deal.

Hook

[VectorBoy 0]

Wendy, what is a pilotchute killer for a lightning?

[faulknerwn 38]

Quote

Wendy, what is a pilotchute killer for a lightning?

Since we use tail-pockets to stow lines and not deployment lines, its a circular piece of fabric with a large grommet on the middle, that slides down the lines after opening and covers the pilot chute. Basically it keeps the pilot chute from being inflated on your topskin. Made a noticable difference in landings for me. I was surprised.
W

[Designer 0]

Crap.just cutaway and pull the reserve.(lol)You gotta be kidding me right?

[winsor 236]

Quote

Of course this poll is only meaningful if your flying something at least under 100 squarefeet. The question is if you ever had a pilot chute not collapse for reasons other than a broken kill line. And the other part of the question is if you had a noncollapsed pilot chute would you choose to land it if you discovered the problem while you were still high enough to safely cut away and go to your reserve.

Uh, I landed my 99 loaded at 2:1 last week with the pilot chute inflated. No biggie; it just flew kind of funky but landed as softly as I could have asked.


Blue skies,

Winsor