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Thread: pilotchute designs, performance and useful lifetimes

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  1. #1
    BLiNC Magazine Supporter (Silver) whatever's Avatar
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    Arrow pilotchute designs, performance and useful lifetimes

    I looked around using search a little bit, but couldn't find what I'm looking for, which is;

    comments about, theories on and experiences with:

    - different pilot chute designs, i.e. 4-spoke vs. 6 spoke vs. 8 spoke, AV, capped, handled, ZP, etc.

    - degradation of pilotchute performance through use, do you ever 'downsize' a used pilotchute mentally, i.e. your 46 now performs like a newish 42 and will be used for jumps that a 42 is suitable for? and if you do, when?

    - change of shape of pilotchute through use and how this affects performance.

    - keeping your pilotchute in the best possible condition, do you leave it unstowed in the stashbag if you're not going to jump it again the same day? best way to treat if if you've taken it swimming? etc, etc.

    when I started, I thought the more basejumps I have, the more answers I will discover, seems like I'm only discovering more questions while acquiring opinions, at best

    thanks
    sam

  2. #2
    Tom Aiello
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    Re: pilotchute designs, performance and useful lifetimes

    Quote Originally Posted by whatever
    ...do you ever 'downsize' a used pilotchute mentally, i.e. your 46 now performs like a newish 42 and will be used for jumps that a 42 is suitable for?
    This is a bad idea. When a PC ages, there are two big effects.

    (a) the PC shrinks (often assymetrically), degrading it's trim
    (b) the fabric becomes more porous, not always symmetrically

    Neither of these things will greatly effect the net pull force of the PC. But they will both effect the inflation time. In other words, the PC doesn't "downsize" in pull force. Rather, it "upsizes" in required inflation time. When this happens, it's pretty much time to toss the PC and get a new one. They're not terribly expensive, and they're certainly not worth your life.

  3. #3
    BLiNC Magazine Supporter (Silver) leroydb's Avatar
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    Re: pilotchute designs, performance and useful lifetimes

    How long does a f-111 PC last you vs. a ZP PC?
    Reality is the playground for our dreams


  4. #4
    BLiNC Magazine Supporter (Silver)
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    Re: pilotchute designs, performance and useful lifetimes

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Aiello
    When this happens, it's pretty much time to toss the PC and get a new one. They're not terribly expensive, and they're certainly not worth your life.
    Plus they're great for accuracy targets and tossing gear.
    "Are flames supposed to be shooting out like that? "

  5. #5

    Re: pilotchute designs, performance and useful lifetimes

    A must-read article from Bill Booth on PC construction here:

    http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/foru...t_reply;so=ASC

    g.

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