Couldn't help it a few years back Vesco's experimented with a rocket
launching their parachute. I don't remember all the "testing incidents"
but they did get the radiator in the push truck at one meet.
Gary & Ellen Wilkinson
Utah Salt Flats Racing Association
----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Dincau <jdincau@qnet.com>
To: DOUG ODOM <popms@thegrid.net>
Cc: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2000 6:25 PM
Subject: Re: Parachute
> Doug,
> I think the problem is one of implementation. Reefer cutters used in the
> military/aerospace are pyrotechnic devises that are built with a
> predetermined delay. The right delay is achieved by lots of
experimentation
> and is different for each application, i.e. extracting jeeps from a C-130
VS
> Trucks from a C-141. In addition pyrotechnic devices don't lend themselves
> to safe operation by amateurs if you know what I mean. Throw in the
> conditions of being packed in a chute that is salty I don't think
electronic
> or pyro gadgets are in the cards for the average chute user. This wouldn't
> preclude their use on an operation that could include persons of the right
> technical bent to oversee their use.
> Jim in Palmdale
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: DOUG ODOM <popms@thegrid.net>
> To: Jim Dincau <jdincau@qnet.com>
> Cc: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2000 8:04 AM
> Subject: Re: Parachute
>
>
> > Jim; Would that system (reefed) work on a LSR vehicle? If so why is it
> > not being used? Doug
> >
> > Jim Dincau wrote:
> > >
> > > Doug,
> > > The chute when it blossoms is in a "reefed" condition. A line holds
the
> > > shroud lines close together where they connect to the canopy. After a
> delay
> > > this line is cut and the chute opens fully. This technique is used in
a
> lot
> > > of instances when dealing with heavy loads.
> > > Jim in Palmdale , who once worked at a place that manufactured "reefer
> > > cutter" charges.
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: DOUG ODOM <popms@thegrid.net>
> > > To: Wester S Potter <wspotter@jps.net>
> > > Cc: <land-speed@autox.team.net>
> > > Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2000 7:16 AM
> > > Subject: Re: Parachute
> > >
> > > > Wes; My $.02 worth. The big difference between drag cars and LSR
cars
> > > > is the size of the tire you have on the ground and the weight of the
> > > > car. I don't know of many drag cars that run 7 or 8 hundred pounds
of
> > > > ballast. On the really fast LSR cars I would think they would copy
the
> > > > Air Force or space shuttle type of parachute deployment. The other
day
> > > > on TV I saw the space shuttle land and the chute was out before the
> > > > wheels touched the ground but it looked like it was rolled up so it
> > > > unfurled and got bigger the longer it was out. Is this a way to
soften
> > > > the hit?
> > > > Doug Odom in big ditch
> > > >
> > > > Wester S Potter wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > List,
> > > > >
> > > > > This braking parachute question always leaves me wondering why the
> drag
> > > > > racers can slow from 300 mph passes with a parachute time after
time
> > > without
> > > > > very many incidents. What is the big difference in slowing from
300
> at
> > > a
> > > > > drag strip and slowing from 380 or so on the salt? I'm sure I'm
> missing
> > > the
> > > > > point here somewhere but something is at work on tethers and chute
> > > design
> > > > > for land-speed applications that is primarily solved in drag
racing.
> > > The
> > > > > discussion early this year on how to find the optimum point for
> placing
> > > a
> > > > > tether connection made sense as I read it. The cars that have
> problems
> > > on
> > > > > the salt are primarily placing that connection in the wrong place
> and
> > > > > disturbing the balance of the car at speed. I realize that drag
> cars
> > > differ
> > > > > so little that once someone gets it right it's easy for everyone
to
> do
> > > the
> > > > > same thing. Not so with land-speed cars. The basilc ability of
> getting
> > > the
> > > > > parachute to deploy and do it's job seems to be the same however.
> The
> > > > > tether straps are able to handle the same loads on dragsters,
ribbon
> > > chutes
> > > > > and the cross panel chutes hold up, what is so different on the
> salt?
> > > The
> > > > > Burkland's car certainly had enough thought in the design area
for
> > > braking
> > > > > but now Tom has gone back to the drawing board to see what he
> missed.
> > > > > Obviously the deployment of the chutes was at speeds higher than
he
> had
> > > > > intended. What's the answer?
> > > > >
> > > > > Wes
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