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In addition to the point verelo raised about the repair/replacement cost of having used a parachute (vs. replacing a motor), I was thinking specifically of a wi

In addition to the point verelo raised about the repair/replacement cost of having used a parachute (vs. replacing a motor), I was thinking specifically of a wingtip-motor failure at takeoff (typically the worst-case scenario), possibly too low for a parachute (some figures here: [1]). This is a 9-passenger airplane, maybe too large for current recovery parachutes? (though I imagine that will change.) [1] https://www.cirruspilots.org/copa/safety_programs/b/pull_early_pull_often/archive/2016/01/16/caps-how-low-can-you-go-or-how-high-do-you-need-to-be-cirrus-pilot-jul-aug-2015.aspx https://www.cirruspilots.org/copa/safety_programs/b/pull_ear...

sandworm101 7y ago
2 parachutes.
- mannykannot 7y ago
  Maybe, but that does not solve low-altitude problems, if indeed there is one. It is possible that two small-airplane sized parachutes will inflate faster than a single larger-airplane parachute, but apparently current small-airplane parachutes do not inflate fast enough to save you at low altitude. Actually, this has me thinking: not all low-altitude situations are the same - an airplane with a downwards trajectory, such as one in a spiral dive, will need more height to save than one that is in a glide, such as after a power failure. This is why even a zero-zero ejector seat will not always save you, if you are descending rapidly at low altitude. Even so, replacing a motor, if that is all it takes, is going to be cheaper than repairing or replacing an airframe that has undergone a parachute recovery.
  - sandworm101 7y ago
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgfG2DfPB6I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgfG2DfPB6I (Action starts at about 02:05) I guess it depends on one's definition of low altitude. Rocket-deployed parachutes open very fast.
    - mannykannot 7y ago
      With respect to engine failure at takeoff, low altitude begins at the point where, if the engine fails, you will not be able complete a landing on a runway (or overrun area, if there is one.) With respect to my original question, if the remaining engines give sufficient performance, using a parachute would not be the standard response even if you had the height and speed for it to work.

sandworm101 7y ago

2 parachutes.

mannykannot 7y ago
Maybe, but that does not solve low-altitude problems, if indeed there is one. It is possible that two small-airplane sized parachutes will inflate faster than a single larger-airplane parachute, but apparently current small-airplane parachutes do not inflate fast enough to save you at low altitude. Actually, this has me thinking: not all low-altitude situations are the same - an airplane with a downwards trajectory, such as one in a spiral dive, will need more height to save than one that is in a glide, such as after a power failure. This is why even a zero-zero ejector seat will not always save you, if you are descending rapidly at low altitude. Even so, replacing a motor, if that is all it takes, is going to be cheaper than repairing or replacing an airframe that has undergone a parachute recovery.
- sandworm101 7y ago
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgfG2DfPB6I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgfG2DfPB6I (Action starts at about 02:05) I guess it depends on one's definition of low altitude. Rocket-deployed parachutes open very fast.
  - mannykannot 7y ago
    With respect to engine failure at takeoff, low altitude begins at the point where, if the engine fails, you will not be able complete a landing on a runway (or overrun area, if there is one.) With respect to my original question, if the remaining engines give sufficient performance, using a parachute would not be the standard response even if you had the height and speed for it to work.