bchurch@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU (Bob Church) (11/28/90)
I'm considering getting a new main sometime in the near future and need some input on a possible problem. Canopies are getting larger and larger. This can be very good, especially for those of us who could stand to lose a few ( ok, a lot of ) pounds. However, what about opening problems. Theoretically a larger canopy increases the chances of a slow opening and snivels. I was wondering if those of you who have gone to larger canopies have noticed problems. I'd like to find an optimum point between soft landings and clean openings. Thanks, bob church bchurch.oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu
ryoder@en.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert W Yoder) (11/29/90)
In article <2638@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU>, bchurch@oucsace.cs.OHIOU.EDU (Bob Church) writes: > I'm considering getting a new main sometime in the near future and > need some input on a possible problem. Canopies are getting larger > and larger. This can be very good, especially for those of us who > could stand to lose a few ( ok, a lot of ) pounds. However, what > about opening problems. Theoretically a larger canopy increases > the chances of a slow opening and snivels. I was wondering if those > of you who have gone to larger canopies have noticed problems. I'd > like to find an optimum point between soft landings and clean > openings. I disagree on the premise that larger canopies have inherently slower openings. This may be true for round canopies, since the canopy slows its own opening, but not for reefed ram-airs. The opening speed of a square is a function of the inflation forces of the canopy versus the retarding forces of the reefing system. The opening characteristics of a ram-air canopy can be easily adjusted by simply changing the dimensions or porosity of the slider. If you change all of the linear dimensions of a canopy design by an identical amount, you will have an identically proportioned canopy, which will have an identical relationship between opening forces and reefing forces. Even if you do find yourself with a canopy that opens too slowly, all you need to do is vent the slider. With F-111, this is frequently necessary as the canopy aquires a lot of jumps. -- Robert Yoder 306 Hawkins Graduate House, West Lafayette, IN 47906 (317)495-6845 Internet: ryoder@ecn.purdue.edu "It's 10 o'clock. UUCP: pur-ee!ryoder Do you know where your child processes are?" Bitnet: ryoder@ecn.purdue.edu@purccvm.bitnet