Parachutes on gliders

desktopsimmer · Post by **desktopsimmer** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:04 pm

Just been visiting some Glider Manufacturers in my extended lunch break and saw this image on the Schempp-Hirth website (manufacturer of the Discus, Ventus and nimbus) http://www.schempp-hirth.com

Just wondering is this system is it widely used? Would you have it something similar installed and only bailout from your craft as a last resort?

Cloudsurfer · Post by **Cloudsurfer** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:13 pm

I have seen that before on picture, but never heard of anyone that has it..

Toby-JKR-UK · Post by **Toby-JKR-UK** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:47 pm

not that widely yet....

its been an 'option' for a couple of years now, but I've not heard of anyone actually having it fitted in the UK..

I think most people prefer to have a turbo instead, I know I would...

Aeroman · Post by **Aeroman** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 4:48 pm

Here's a little piece of safety notes from the DG company:

5. Ballistic Parachute:
A system in which the whole glider comes down on a parachute has the disadvantage that the "landing" is rather hard and the pilot can be injured more seriously than if he jumped with a personal parachute. Jumping with a parachute gives a good chance for an injury-free landing because the pilot has an excellent, built in "sprung undercarriage": his legs.

The pilot has to be sure he can safely exit the aircraft, of course. At altitudes above 1000 feet, our NOAH (NOtAusstiegsHilfe) system can be life saving. But at lower altitudes, the only useful system after a collision, for instance, is a parachute that lowers the whole aircraft to the ground. The question then is whether it might be better to invest the construction changes and the weight in a super strong cockpit........

A rescue system in which only the pilot is separated from the glider by rocket assistance is hardly imaginable. It would have to be some kind of smaller version of an ejection seat like in military aircraft. Building such a system into a glider would be far too complex and costly. Pulling pilots up out of the cockpit with the parachute would not work!

You can read more at:
http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/index-e.html ----> SAFETY

Sebb · Post by **Sebb** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 3:13 pm

Hey guys,
it was constructed by HansjÃ¶rg Streifeneder http://www.streifly.de and Eisele jun. owns a Ventus 2bxR. It is enabled as option and a really good option instead of a turbo - if you loose anything, the turbo doesn't help anyway, the R does instead of the T!

If you want to buy a glider don't rape it with giving it a motor!

Best regards, Seb

Cloudsurfer · Post by **Cloudsurfer** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 3:35 pm

Sebb wrote:If you want to buy a glider don't rape it with giving it a motor!

Best regards, Seb

Thank you! That's my view on it aswell..

Aussiewalrus · Post by **Aussiewalrus** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 11:31 am

that depends on whether you have a handy ground crew or not.

Personally, if I had the money, i'd go for a sustainer. Can attempt a lot more with less support. And you can always take it out for comps

Sebb · Post by **Sebb** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 2:43 pm

I think if you'd had the money, you shold buy a motorized plane... in my opinion the thoughts of soaring as a sport is just do what you can - and if needed, landing outside an airfÃeld... just my opinion...

Seb

Aussiewalrus · Post by **Aussiewalrus** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:11 am

god no, a plane is that last thing i want!

Only gliding for me, and hassle free gliding is great.

TimKuijpers · Post by **TimKuijpers** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:26 am

I think your opionion depends on the weather a lot!
In holland, germany, england (those countries near by sea) the weather can collaps very easily...
It's handy when you've got your little friend behind your head.
As far as I heard from dutchies who went to australia, the weather is much more predictable down under.
The only big problem is the seabreeze at gawler...
but it's easier to predict then the Low country weather

Aussiewalrus · Post by **Aussiewalrus** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:55 am

I'd agree with that. I fly from a coub about 40 mins from Gawler so also get the sea breeze.

It's easier to stay up in Australia, but when you do come down, retrieving is a pain in the ass. Often dont have mobile coverage and land a long way from a house. Compared to the uk where i have also had to do retrieves and there is always mobile coverage and a road nearby. Hence me thinking sustainers are a great idea