Ballistic Recovery System (Parachute)

[cmiller]

I have flown aerobatics since the 60's and I wear a parachute, even when flying acro solo. I just feel safer. I took a jump course, long before there were tandem parachutes. I have 2 static jumps and 2 free fall. I take comfort in knowing what to expect if I ever need to jump, which I have not. The real thing to remember is keep it tight. Once it opens, relax and enjoy the ride and you are less likely to break anything. Secondly, know and trust your packer, and check your parachute over before each flight. (your packer will show you how to do that.) Lastly, I agree that you should practice getting out of your airplane while wearing the chute. Each airplane has it's own exit challenges.
I use a chair pack and find it reasonably comfortable. I actually own 3 parachutes and none cost more than $1200. They were not new, but parachutes time out in 20 years, so you can get a used one with plenty of life. Individual parts can be replaced. You might have a 10 year old container, with a 7 year old canopy and a new harness. This greatly affects the price. Hope this helps

[fastj22]

In my Waiex, I have the swing back canopy. I'm confident that if I release both sides of the canopy, it will depart the aircraft. Then its just a matter of unbuckling my seat belt and standing up to exit the aircraft. If the plane is tumbling, I may depart sooner.
When I took aerobatic training in a Decathlon, it was a bit more challenging to get out during ground practice, but with enough motivation, I'm sure I could do it.
As we said during my yacht racing days... There is no better bilge pump than a frightened man with a bucket.

[SonexN76ET]

OK, I know that there are strong opinions on the benefit of an airframe ballistic recovery system. As I have said before, I am in favor of a BRS system and that if Sonex were to engineer and offer a BRS system for a Sonex, I would buy it. I have seen lots of comments on pilots wearing a parachute and getting out of an aircraft in an emergency. But, what about your passengers?

Let's say that you take your mother or your daughter or your grandpa for a ride and some unforseen event arrises. Say for instance a UAV operated by some chump 400 miles away in an air conditioned bunker hits you from behind and your aircraft becomes uncontrollable. If you have a BRS, you pull the handle and enjoy the ride. Without it, you have no options.

Now, just because one builder says the BRS would have to be shot out of the bottom and the Sonex would float down upside down, that is just one person's opinion. I am sure that if Sonex and BRS were to engineer a solution it would be a solution that would have the chute fire out of the turtle deck or the side and have risers that would be deflected away from the cockpit and the plane would float down rightside up.

Keep an open mind guys...

Jake
By the way, I was a jumpmaster in the Special Forces and we rigged parachutes up to all kinds of stuff and they work great!

[Sonerai13]

I am sure that if Sonex and BRS were to engineer a solution it would be a solution that would have the chute fire out of the turtle deck or the side and have risers that would be deflected away from the cockpit and the plane would float down rightside up.

I'd hope you all realize that this discussion has already taken place between Sonex and BRS. In fact, there have been several discussions over the years. The product of the discussion has always ended up the same - there just isn't a good, clean, safe way to do it on a Sonex/Waiex/Xenos/Onex.

Also, keep in mind that the BRS chute would lower the airplane to the ground at approximately 35 mph vertically. The Sonex stalls at about that same speed with flaps, so it wouldn't be hard to make an approach under control at around 40 mph. Personally, I'd rather meet the ground at a shallow angle at 40 mph under control than meet it vertically at 35 mph under no control. But that's just me. As always, your mileage may vary.

[kmacht]

I get that the sonex stalls at 35-40 mph but that only applies if you have control of the airplane. You will most likely be going much faster if there is a structural failure or loss of flight controls due to something such as a midair, bird strike, broken weld, jammed elevator, loss of spatial orintation for inadvertant flight into IMC, etc. I don't think many people would reason that pulling the chute for an engine failure only would be a good idea. It is only when you no longer have any control of the plane that it makes sense. That being said, if one was ever engineered to work with my Sonex I would probably buy it.

Keith
#554

[kmwoody]

Does anyone have an idea of what happens to the canopy when you open it in flight. I would hope that it would rip off the fuselage, but I can't help think that if it didn't it would continue to flop back and forth pounding me whilst I am trying to exit the aircraft. I guess a few bruises and broken bones are much better than the other option in an uncontrollable aircraft.

Ken W
Sonex 959

[NWade]

Let's say that you take your mother or your daughter or your grandpa for a ride and some unforseen event arrises. Say for instance a UAV operated by some chump 400 miles away in an air conditioned bunker hits you from behind and your aircraft becomes uncontrollable. If you have a BRS, you pull the handle and enjoy the ride. Without it, you have no options.

Nonsense - you have an easy and obvious option: The Sonex is a two-seater; so you just buy a second chute and you give them a 5-minute briefing on how to use it. I do it all the time when I take folks on sailplane flights! :-)

--Noel
(And before anyone says it: I'm not anti-BRS; but not a believer in it as a cure-all, a solution for every aircraft, or a substitute for other good flying practices)

P.S. Lest you think a slow ride to the ground in the airplane is always good after a mishap, please watch this Cirrus video.

[SonexN76ET]

Noel,

I am going to politely disagree with you on all of your points. Most significantly, I do not think you can expect a non pilot to exit a tumbling aircraft and pull a D ring on their own.

Plus on the Cirrus ditching video, imagine trying to land in those swells, cartwheeling, and then trying to get out of an inverted sinking aircraft. I'll take the BRS chute thank you.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think BRS chutes are a wonderful safety feature. I personally know one pilot who had is life and his passenger's lives saved by a BRS chute. He is a true believer.

Jake

Jake

[fastj22]

Does anyone have an idea of what happens to the canopy when you open it in flight. I would hope that it would rip off the fuselage, but I can't help think that if it didn't it would continue to flop back and forth pounding me whilst I am trying to exit the aircraft. I guess a few bruises and broken bones are much better than the other option in an uncontrollable aircraft.

Ken W
Sonex 959

The stock swing over canopy, who knows? It will probably beat the heck out of you if opened in flight. The swing back however, will very probably just depart the aircraft with a pop. Even with a swing over, given enough motivation and time, I think I could get out. Remember we are talking about a catastrophic situation. You probably aren't going to get out with getting your hair mussed.

[fastj22]

Noel,

I am going to politely disagree with you on all of your points. Most significantly, I do not think you can expect a non pilot to exit a tumbling aircraft and pull a D ring on their own.

Plus on the Cirrus ditching video, imagine trying to land in those swells, cartwheeling, and then trying to get out of an inverted sinking aircraft. I'll take the BRS chute thank you.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think BRS chutes are a wonderful safety feature. I personally know one pilot who had is life and his passenger's lives saved by a BRS chute. He is a true believer.

Jake

Jake

BRS would be optimal. However, the Sonex was not designed for one. To retrofit one would be marginal at best. Think of the cables used to secure it to the airframe. Usually its attached to the spar. That spar is under your legs. So any deployment of the BRS means a cable under tremendous load will be traversing the cockpit, under your legs, at high speed and load. The Cirrus, the cables are laid into the fuselage on the outside of the aircraft and the bridals attach outside, keeping the cockpit intact. On high wing aircraft, it doesn't cross through the cockpit either. I just don't see how anyone could engineer a BRS for a Sonex/RV12/Zenith 601 or any low wing LSA that safely could be deployed without injury or death to the occupants unless it was a primary design feature from the beginning.