Sport Pilot Talk

rickdaniels · Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

Just because you don't feel a chute is for you does not mean your "hate'n" it. To each his/her own. Easy on the "older guy's". No statistical evidence shows that older pilots avoiding a medical and choosing to fly light sport are having more inflight medical emergencies than any other class of pilots. Let's not start painting a picture that sport pilots are a bunch of old geezers avoiding a medical who are one flight plan away from dying at the stick or yoke. (This subject would be more appropriate on a separate thread.)

3Dreaming · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 301 Location: noble, IL USA

I didn't want to sound like I was picking on the "old guys", and it is fine to have your own opinion on if the chute is for you or not.The point I was trying to make is almost eveyone who does not like the chute brings up the point of the 45kt stall speed and low kinetic energy of the airplane. The chute is a peice of safety equipment that can be added to save lives in certain situations while flying the airplane, not just with an engine failure. With an engine failure if the airplane is flyable and there is a place to land I think a landing is in order. The chute is not just there for when the engine quits. Look up the video of the Kitfox getting tangled up in the glider tow rope, or the story of the son who pulled the handle when his father ad a medical problem. He saved himself and 2 other passangers.

rickdaniels · Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

Great examples of why you should have a chute 3dreaming. There are many great examples where a GPS, Radio, transponder, AOA indicator, pitch hitter training and the like have saved a life. Not every airpane has all of the above. I think what others are saying (if I may be so bold to attempt to determine what others are thinking) you must use your situation, experience, aircraft and faith to determine which safety devices you have in your aircraft that you intend to rely on. For me, a chute would be the last item I would consider but then I am restricted by available useful load. If I had the money, space and useful load perhaps I would look at one. Nothing is more important than knowing your aircraft and proper training. By the way, I am one of those "old(er) guys" who went from PPL to light sport.
"THATS JUST MY OPINION, I COULD BE WRONG"

ArionAv8or · Joined: 20 Mar 2010 Posts: 271

Very well put Rick, I couldn't agree more. When I was looking to purchase a new aircraft that was the last thing I was looking for. I narrowed my search to the PiperSport which comes with the BRS and the Arion Lightning LS-1 which does not. I ended up with the Lightning LS-1 and wouldn't trade it for the world.

As for the "older guy", I am only 45 years old and in perfect health. I chose Sport Pilot because it consists of the flying I would be doing. Owning your own business doesn't free up a lot of time so the SP was perfect for me. After all, I have no desire to fly in the soup and if it's not a nice day out I don't want to fly. I do this for fun, not for a living.

3Dreaming · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 301 Location: noble, IL USA

Boy this thread got way off track, and I guess I didn't help much either. The thread started off with someone wanting an airplane with a chute, and jumped to I don't like chutes with a side of mis-information. Somtimes it is hard to convey what you mean when typing it on a keyboard. I have been a pilot for over 30 years. I know that is not a long time, but I have been around aviation all my life. Until a few years ago I would have been on the same side of argument as the others. Now I am glad that I own an airplane that has a chute. It allowed me to become more educated about the chute and what it is there for. I pay insurance on the plane, but I hope that I never have to use it. I hope I never have to use the chute, but I can tell you that if I am ever in a situation where I need it I will be glad I had it. It is kind of like the insurance, if you don't have it and need it the outcome will be bad.

rickdaniels · Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Posts: 7

I think we are all saying the same thing. We all want to be safe and it is up to each of us to "choose our weapons". I think getting off track (and I helped also) made this a good thread.

Blue Skies