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-   -   BRS Chute Installation for RV10 (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=152760)

rocketman1988 08-29-2017 07:29 AM

curious
 
"...who after retirement saved himself twice with whole-aircraft chutes..."

Just curious, what situations prompted the deployment of the chutes?

DanH 08-29-2017 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketman1988 (Post 1199893)
"...who after retirement saved himself twice with whole-aircraft chutes..."

Just curious, what situations prompted the deployment of the chutes?

One control disconnect (broken component), one structural failure of a wing under high load.

Canadian_JOY 08-29-2017 10:52 AM

I'll chime in again from the perspective of an owner of a different amateur-built aircraft type...

Glasair is offering a whole-airframe parachute for the Sportsman. I don't have many details however it is an available option. This might be part of Glasair's plan to certify the Sportsman (perhaps same reasoning as Cirrus).

The Sportsman would seem well-suited to a parachute since its 4130 steel tube "cage" provides excellent opportunities for transmitting the airframe loads to the 'chute risers.

I've flown a Cirrus simulator and pulled the 'chute. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. It takes a lot more to pull that handle than one would think - the handle is also connected to engine controls to ensure the engine is shut down as the 'chute is deployed.

From a personal perspective I can see the value of a whole-airframe parachute, especially as a person who enjoys flying at night, and who has a strong aversion to being upside down in water. Would I retrofit one? I'm not sure.

Snowflake 08-29-2017 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian_JOY (Post 1199943)
The Sportsman would seem well-suited to a parachute since its 4130 steel tube "cage" provides excellent opportunities for transmitting the airframe loads to the 'chute risers.

What just occurred to me reading this is that the structure of the passenger compartment is really all you care about... If any other structure is bent or broken because you pull the chute, who cares? You made the decision to write the airplane off before you pulled the handle. So beefing up a Sportsman or an RV-10 may only need localized reinforcement around the immediate cabin.

I admit, i'm not convinced about the necessity of a parachute. It still seems to me that most of the situations where the chute was used still boil down to "you shouldn't have been in that situation anyway" before the chute was pulled, and the times people have died without using it all get pointed at by people asking "why didn't they use the chute?" Damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

Bill Boyd 08-29-2017 12:42 PM

the whole upside down after ditching thing
 
I've read the threads about James Bond's mini-SCUBA rescue devices, etc.

Wondering what it would take in terms of effort/cost/weight to put enough flotation in an RV to keep it afloat awhile, even upside down, to allow egress assuming occupants were uninjured and doors operating normally.

How many ping pong balls in the wings? How many inflated condoms? How much expanding foam? Seal the holes in the tailcone/wing bays enough to allow control movement and very slow ingress of water? Inflatable raft in the back to yank if you ditch but leave in place behind the baggage bulkhead?

It would be nice to know the actual liquid displacement of a flooded/submerged RV. All calcs would have to start from there.

1001001 08-29-2017 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Boyd (Post 1199972)
I've read the threads about James Bond's mini-SCUBA rescue devices, etc.

Wondering what it would take in terms of effort/cost/weight to put enough flotation in an RV to keep it afloat awhile, even upside down, to allow egress assuming occupants were uninjured and doors operating normally.

How many ping pong balls in the wings? How many inflated condoms? How much expanding foam? Seal the holes in the tailcone/wing bays enough to allow control movement and very slow ingress of water? Inflatable raft in the back to yank if you ditch but leave in place behind the baggage bulkhead?

It would be nice to know the actual liquid displacement of a flooded/submerged RV. All calcs would have to start from there.


Maybe just assemble the whole airframe with Proseal, and install some additional solid bulkhead ribs to allow for watertight compartments?;)

YellowJacket RV9 08-29-2017 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake (Post 1199959)
I admit, i'm not convinced about the necessity of a parachute. It still seems to me that most of the situations where the chute was used still boil down to "you shouldn't have been in that situation anyway" before the chute was pulled, and the times people have died without using it all get pointed at by people asking "why didn't they use the chute?" Damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

When it comes time to pull the chute, I don't think it matters whether or not you "should have been" in that situation. You can worry about that on the ground, alive. I can just about guarantee that all of us (even - or especially - those who profess superior piloting and decision making skills) have been in situations where, had things gone bad, people could say "he/she shouldn't have been in that situation". Fly long enough, and outside the pattern, and things happen, even to the best of us. Usually we luck out, but not always.

We can either recognize that we are fallible beings, and prepare for our own screw ups, or keep telling ourselves that we are the one pilot in the world who never makes a bad call.

Of course, we could always go the opposite route. An economist once suggested the best way to make cars safer would be to remove all protective devices and then put a big metal spike sticking out of the steering wheel. Imagine how safe we would all drive then! Maybe we can rig a self-destruct device that activates as soon as it detects low fuel, VFR into IMC, etc! :D

Chris

upperdeck 08-29-2017 05:06 PM

My uncle and his passenger are two of the saves included in the Cirrus statistics referenced above. In his case, he was in IMC, in the mountains, and encountered a wind sheer. Parachute activated and lowered the airplane into the treetops. They were both injured but only after trying to extricate themselves from the treetops where the airplane came to rest. I am certain they are still alive because of the parachute.

Incidentally, his aircraft was bought out by the insurance company. But it was salvaged and lived to fly another day. Just another point of view... your aircraft may be saved in addition to your life.

TimJRV10 03-26-2018 06:22 PM

Updates on the BRS for the RV-10?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by shoprat (Post 1199306)
For those interested in installing a BRS chute in their RV10, I have some good news. Several builders, including myself, have signed purchase agreements which has gotten the design and engineering phase started. Should see the first kits by the first of the year or before. I'll send updates as the process progresses.

Bruce McGlamery
Winter Springs, FL

Any updates on the engineering progress? Will this require an aftermarket fuselage top to hide the cables?

Tim

shoprat 03-27-2018 05:54 AM

BRS Update
 
Tim, Here is the current update. Send me your email address and I'll send you a copy of the install manual. That will answer all your questions.
bmcglamery@embarqmail.com


The delay occur because we had a few problems with the prototype aircraft (but we already solve it), and the schedule of the BRS engineer (due to his work schedule, he couldn?t get here sooner).
But I?m happy to inform that the date for the Ground Extraction Test is defined and it will happen during the first week of April (3 to 5).

We received the GET kit and we are on the final preparation for do the test, and deliver the Parachute for the RV10.
I?m sending to you the Preliminary PIM ? Parachute Installation Manual. The final version will be far more complete, with a lot more photos and step-by-step detailed to ensure easy installation.

I will keep you informed during the execution of the GET (you can follow the live info that we will start to film on our Instagram profile: @brsparaquedas)


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