Pilot Chute holes

[guest]

What would be the effect on a pilot chute if there are 6 pin size punctures in it. (its f111)

[guest]

if they're only pin sized holes, i wouldn't worry too much about them. just keep an eye on them, that they don't continue to grow....

[guest]

I once shot my pilot chute with a shotgun to see just how tough it was. Turns out it wasn't so tough after all. Funny, but you'll find your pilot chute won't mouth off quite so much after you put a load of buckshot through it. I know that it is not PC to brag about blowing a gaping hole in your PC, but damnit, they deserve it sometimes, don't they?

[guest]

I have (and have used) PC's with small punctures in them. I've never used anything with an actual tear, so this all depends on the size of your holes.

Anyway, I doubt the punctures are anything to worry about. If they are all clustered together, though, they may cause pilot chute oscillation, which can effect heading. So, I wouldn't recommend using that PC on any object where heading is a "do or die" proposition.

But I'd say they're really not much to worry about.

--Tom Aiello
tbaiello@ucdavis.edu

P.S. If you think about it, though, 70 bucks isn't very much to spend for a little piece of mind the next time you're standing on the edge, scared out of your wits...