---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Thu 03/15/12: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 10:12 AM - Hug your Kolb Daily,and Homer will smile on you! (Dennis Thate) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 10:12:58 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Hug your Kolb Daily,and Homer will smile on you! From: "Dennis Thate" INCREASING YOUR ODDS If you view the BRS web site, you will see testimonials regarding many successful deployments at or below 300 feet; in some cases much lower. http://brsparachutes.com/lives_saved.aspx If you view this video, you will begin to understand why low altitude recoveries are possible with the rocket/canister version of the BRS chute. http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010-08-17_BRS-WingSeparate.asp What you need to be concerned with is possible reasons for UNSUCCESSFUL deployment of the chute; there are a few: 1 Exceeding the parachute design speed limitations / delayed deployment 2 Misrouting or binding in the release cable / firing mechanism 3 Improper installation not following manufacturers recommendations 4 Aircraft failure mode wing failure blocking canister and preventing proper deployment 5 Pusher prop snagging parachute bridle / lines kill engine or at least retard throttle before deployment with a pusher type aircraft 6 System / component degradation moisture, corrosion, UV damage The BRS chute system is not 100% fail-safe. It does; however, improve your odds of survival quite a bit. The Firestar is a very strong and well engineered little airplane. Structural failure is exceedingly rare. When assembling and unfolding your aircraft for flight, use a CHECKLIST to insure that you have installed lock-rings on all clevis pins & cables. BTW, lock-rings do not snag on tall grass safety pin types do! Dont use miniature lock rings. I use small SS rings about one inch O.D. with large diameter wire from a marine supply store. Setting up for flight while talking to you buddy and forgetting a clevis pin locking device is a vastly more likely scenario than a structural failure on a Kolb Firestar. Use the checklist religiously. I laminated mine and taped a copy inside the cockpit. Do install the aileron mass balance weights to prevent flutter and possible aileron hinge damage/separation. The weights and use of a checklist will increase your odds for a safe flight much more than a parachute ever will. -------- Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute. ~Gil Stern Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=368627#368627 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kolb-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Kolb-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/kolb-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kolb-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.