Date: Tue, 28 Feb 95 22:35:49 PST
From: "Michael Antares" <mantares@crl.com>
Subject: Ballistic chutes

Was just reading in the homebuilt newsgroup the comment about installing a
ballistic chute (this person apparently did it on a Long Eze).  His comment
originated because of the death of a pilot caused by a reworked engine
freezing up in flight.  Has anyone investigated the possibility of doing it
on a Cozy IV?  I subscribe to Avaiation Safety (a bi-weekly journal) and
there was a write-up some months ago about ballistic chutes.  The writer was
not too eager about them.  I plan on using the O-360 engine so I don't think
there is any more risk with the Cozy engine quitting than in any of the
rental aircraft I now am forced to use--probably less in fact because I get
to take care of it. Anyway I would be interested in other opinions.

Michael
Michael Antares                  Software/Hardware Systems Engineering
mantares@crl.com                 Santa Rosa, California

Date: Wed, 1 Mar 95 9:42:39 EST
Subject: Re: Ballistic chutes

Michael;

The tone of this message (and the one on building materials arriving)
seemed to indicate that you ment to send it to the whole "cozy_builders"
list.  However, you only sent them to me (as far as I can tell from the
headers).  If you meant to send them to everyone, you may want to resend. 
If you don't have copies, I can resend them for you.

>Was just reading in the homebuilt newsgroup the comment about installing a
>ballistic chute (this person apparently did it on a Long Eze).  His comment
>originated because of the death of a pilot caused by a reworked engine
>freezing up in flight.  Has anyone investigated the possibility of doing it
>on a Cozy IV?  I subscribe to Avaiation Safety (a bi-weekly journal) and
>there was a write-up some months ago about ballistic chutes.  The writer was
>not too eager about them.  I plan on using the O-360 engine so I don't think
>there is any more risk with the Cozy engine quitting than in any of the
>rental aircraft I now am forced to use--probably less in fact because I get
>to take care of it. Anyway I would be interested in other opinions.

I've thought about this.  From what I've seen in the ads, there's only one
or two chutes which can deal with the weight of a MKIV.  They're also
relatively expensive, and as you say, with a certified engine, I'm not TOO
worried.  If I could put something I KNEW had been tested in a MKIV in my
plane for $2-3K, I'd probably do it.

--

Marc J. Zeitlin                              E-Mail: marcz@an.hp.com