peek 21 #1 November 11, 2004 Parks College Parachute Research Group in the St. Louis Post Dispatch newspaper: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/sciencemedicine/story/4613B31AAD1C6F0186256F47001D4B87?OpenDocument&Headline=Chuting+the+breeze See if you can spot the gaffes! Our web site: http://www.pcprg.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #2 November 12, 2004 The language is simplified to make it understandable for the whuffo reader. But it's a pretty good article. QuoteSee if you can spot the gaffes! Quote: "Most sky divers and paratroopers use rectangular, so-called ram-air chutes." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peek 21 #3 November 13, 2004 Good find. I didn't really think of that one because there is another that is an absolute howler. Anybody? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Levin 0 #4 November 13, 2004 QuoteSensors along the rigging measured how much of a yank the parachutes delivered as they opened Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Levin 0 #5 November 13, 2004 QuoteIn the past, Potvin and Peek have used wind tunnel tests to examine crucifix-shaped chutes. QuotePotvin strapped a gizmo to his head to measure G-force. do you have a picture somewhere of that crucifix shaped chute? would like to see it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Patkat 0 #6 November 13, 2004 QuoteAsked if he'd ever escaped a plane by chute, he smiled wistfully, shaking his head. "That's the ultimate sky dive." Wistfully? How about this use of the word - "The reporter smiled wistfully, and said, 'I wish we had had dictionaries when I was in college.'"Patkat gotta exercise my demons! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peek 21 #7 November 13, 2004 That's the howler I refered to. Yes, we use that crucifix parachute to ward off malfunctions. So who is the patron Saint of malfunctions? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,146 #8 November 13, 2004 QuoteThat's the howler I refered to. Yes, we use that crucifix parachute to ward off malfunctions. So who is the patron Saint of malfunctions? I suspect they mean cruciform, right? Didn't you guys do a lot of work on those? -... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peek 21 #9 November 14, 2004 Quite a lot of work on cruciform parachutes. The military wanted to know to what extent they can be steered and how much drive they have. (About a 0.8 to 1 glide ratio at best it turns out. Enough to maybe get back from a bad spot.) Cruciform parachutes are quick and cheap to make because they are two pieces of rectangular material, and they have been used extensively for cargo drops. "Precision Airdrop" is what the army has been interested in for a number of years now, to get the loads closer to the trooops so they are in less danger. They also want to do it with cheaper parachutes. Cruciform parachutes, when deployed from a side door of an aircraft tend to become inverted, not a bad problem for cargo, but bad for steering. We found that they need mesh or "spider" sliders to be more reliable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #10 November 14, 2004 Quotedo you have a picture somewhere of that crucifix shaped chute? would like to see it. Go to the drag races. You'll see "cruciform" parachutes in use all day long. But I bet you knew that already. Or maybe they are testing chutes with a little plastic Jesus in the middle. Might be pretty cool. I know I've looked up a number of times to check canopy and said "Oh, Jesus!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
