skymama 37 #1 May 20, 2004 That was the lead-in to the next ABC World News Story in a few minutes. It looks like they're testing putting paracutes on small planes to help with smooth landings. Turn it on if you're at home to see it, they're having commercials now. Edit: Yep, they're putting "rocket propelled" parachutes on the tops of small airplanes now. They've already saved 3 lives so far. The cost is $3,000-$10,000, and they're hoping to have the technology to put them on commercial flights someday. Cool!She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man, because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diablopilot 2 #2 May 20, 2004 A company that makes them. http://brsparachutes.com/ And a company that I believe uses them. http://www.cirrusdesign.com/---------------------------------------------- You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FunBobby 0 #3 May 20, 2004 Darn. Got beaten to it.... But here's a pic from that website. FunBobby Edited - whoops, attachment did not work. Trying again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 7 #4 May 21, 2004 QuoteThat was the lead-in to the next ABC World News Story in a few minutes. It looks like they're testing putting paracutes on small planes to help with smooth landings. Turn it on if you're at home to see it, they're having commercials now. Edit: Yep, they're putting "rocket propelled" parachutes on the tops of small airplanes now. They've already saved 3 lives so far. The cost is $3,000-$10,000, and they're hoping to have the technology to put them on commercial flights someday. Cool! I think this has been around on the GA aircraft for about 10 years now. BillVon? Quade? Anyone else know for sure when they started putting these on? I know this isn't new to this year. That's for sure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #5 May 21, 2004 Yep i think they have been around for 10 years or so. Told my dad to invest in the company. He didn't. Not a lot of buyers. But yes it's about time we put parachutes on planes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markbaur 0 #6 May 21, 2004 1993 was the year the FAA certified a BRS system for Cessna 150/152s. BRS and Second Chantz were in the ultra-light recovery parachute business starting in the early 80's. Mark Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DickMcMahon 0 #7 May 21, 2004 The future? See attachment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pilotdave 0 #8 May 21, 2004 QuoteIt looks like they're testing putting paracutes on small planes to help with smooth landings. Smooth is relative I guess... the aircraft will be destroyed. But any landing you can walk away from... They've been used for years on ultralights and homebuilts, and saved hundreds of lives. Only new thing is putting them on certified aircraft. The idea makes a lot of sense for an ultralight or something else that is likely to suffer a structural failure. Wouldn't make any sense to try something like that on an airliner. It would be extremely dangerous actually. Just imagine an inadvertant firing. BAAAAD. I'm skepticle of their usefulness on Cessna 152s and 172s. Structural failures almost never happen, it probably won't save you in a low altitude stall/spin situation, and a deadstick landing may be a better option in the case of an engine failure, depending on what terrain you're flying over. (same reason we all use square reserves nowadays) I think bigger news is the new use of airbags in aircraft. They're mounted inside the seatbelt. A couple small plane manufacturers will be offering them very soon, and they'll be appearing on airliners in bulkhead rows very soon. They allow the airline to put seats closer to the bulkhead, so they can fit an extra row. How wonderful. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bertusgeert 1 #9 May 21, 2004 Excuse me, but... Who wants to go skydiving INSIDE the plane? Give ME that chute and LEMME OUT! --------------------------------------------- As jy dom is moet jy bloei! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #10 May 21, 2004 It's nothing new. BRS was putting slug-fired chutes on ultralights at least 20 years ago, and they've been on GA A/C for at least ten years that I know of, maybe more. mh ps - For the curious, BRS is a slug-fired system inspired by designs for ejection seats... ."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
diverdriver 7 #11 May 21, 2004 QuoteIt's nothing new. BRS was putting slug-fired chutes on ultralights at least 20 years ago, and they've been on GA A/C for at least ten years that I know of, maybe more. mh ps - For the curious, BRS is a slug-fired system inspired by designs for ejection seats... . That's what I thought. I love how the press announces something as "new" whenever they feel like it. Kinda like when the press and 20/20 announced a new drug kids were using called X. Uhhh...like that was around when Raves first started in the late 80s early 90s. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #12 May 21, 2004 QuoteBRS and Second Chantz were in the ultra-light recovery parachute business starting in the early 80's. Yep, Dad had one on his GT400 and another one on the Rans. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #13 May 21, 2004 QuoteDarn. Got beaten to it.... But here's a pic from that website. FunBobby Edited - whoops, attachment did not work. Trying again. That's not a parachute - that's a n umbrella - where are the toggles? I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
winsor 236 #14 May 21, 2004 QuoteQuoteThat was the lead-in to the next ABC World News Story in a few minutes. It looks like they're testing putting paracutes on small planes to help with smooth landings. Turn it on if you're at home to see it, they're having commercials now. Edit: Yep, they're putting "rocket propelled" parachutes on the tops of small airplanes now. They've already saved 3 lives so far. The cost is $3,000-$10,000, and they're hoping to have the technology to put them on commercial flights someday. Cool! I think this has been around on the GA aircraft for about 10 years now. BillVon? Quade? Anyone else know for sure when they started putting these on? I know this isn't new to this year. That's for sure. The first patent for such a system (not rocket, though) dates to about 1935. The predictions that everyone would have one within 10 years accompanied the news release back then. Blue skies, Winsor Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
