parachute
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January 04, 2024
This title is not what you think. Or, is it? Have you ever noticed what those orange/red color rings, or that short piece of “red” tape over a hole are for usually on the left side of the glider cockpit? It is where the manufacturer is telling you to connect to your lifeline! An interesting fact is that the manufacturer does not say one thing about it in the GFM.
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May 26, 2021
During a landout in a glider, you may find yourself in a hostile environment lasting for several hours to several days. While most US pilots think of the desert or Rocky Mountain areas as the likely place for an extended stay to occur, it can just as easily happens closer to home. In April 2007 a very experienced ridge soaring pilot went down along the forested Alleghany Mountains in Pennsylvania.
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April 01, 2021
Editors Note: We are soaring ambassadors whenever taking passengers up for a ride. Hugh offers a comprehensive approach to glider passenger briefings from ground operations, to the use of parachutes when available, and the actual flight (parachutes were not an option when the photo was taken). Effective briefings can reduce passenger stress and help foster our sport of soaring.
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September 08, 2016
In a stressful or out of the ordinary situation you are going to do what you have been practicing and will probably use muscle memory. I will highlight a few of my pet peeves.
Get out of the glider in the order you bailout. Have you watched some pilots practice each time they climb out? They open the canopy, undo their belts, climb out and reach for the D ring. These pilots are serious about
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March 24, 2016
1.4 PARACHUTE SERVICE LIFE
Independent testing of aged nylon materials has proven that its strength degrades over time, therefore, Para-Phernalia, Inc. and Free Flight Enterprises have established a 20-year service life from the date of component manufacture for the Softie Pilot Emergency System and the Preserve line of emergency parachutes.
This week we got some points
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March 10, 2016
Glider pilots will spend $7,000 on a new flight computer without thinking about it. But do not want to spend $450 to replace their sun decayed belts. The ones that will be the last line of defense keeping you alive in an accident.
Most manufactures have a 12 year life. It will be clearly marked on the belts. If it is no longer marked it is assumed to be expired. The sailplane manufacture