Re: Parachute

[Wester S Potter <wspotter@jps.net>]

Doug, List,
That would seem to make lots of sense ... softening the jerk on the initial
hit.  LSR cars don't have the luxury of lots of storage space for longer
tethers but the stretch on the line could be a shock absorber type of thing.
Sure are a lot of rubber bands on the course beyond the five that once held
lines in place.
Had some second hand experience with parachutes in the National Guard ...
they had the Special Forces units in Utah jumping chutes designed for sea
level.  Lots of injuries from hard hits.  Ten years later someone mentioned
that there was a different, larger, high altitude chute designed for jumps
above 3500 feet ... quick switch, LOTS fewer injuries.
Wonder about the stopping at say Denver as opposed to sea level drag strips?
The salt is 4200 feet.  You'd think that chutes designed for sea level would
still be okay there.  Just not as effective at stopping but not so hard on
shrouds and tethers.
Wes