Brief:
This is a review o' Giant Leap Rocketry's 48" Spherachute PLUS+. Ya scallywag! The Spherachute PLUS+ is "a true hemispherical panel chute. ULTRA HIGH QUALITY high drag design." This product is exclusively available through Giant Leap.

Construction:
Here are t' specifications, me bucko, right off o' Giant Leap's website:

• Tight, high density stitch, matey, made t' last!
• 400# test shrouds!
• Spill hole t' reduce sway and drift.
• Strong ripstop nylon.
• Sharp contrastin' 2-color design.
• Tried and proven!
• 1000# swivel already attached!
• Each chute comes with its own carryin' case.

Here are some o' me observations:

• There are eight 36" shroud lines
• T' shroud lines are 1/8" circular nylon with inside cords (as best as I can tell)
• T' shroud lines are stitched 3" up into t' canopy
• T' spill hole is 3" in diameter

Although some o' t' specifications are somewhat qualitative (How tight is tight? How strong is strong?), matey, I have no doubt that this chute is sturdy enough for t' typical rocket. Arrr! Blimey! On t' other hand, me bucko, it is nay as strong as ones with tubular nylon sewn over t' canopy. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

So t' frame me rating, here are some quick comparisons off Giant Leap's site:

This is nay an exhaustive comparison, matey, but it shows that t' Spherachute is a mid range product, maybe nay as durable as t' chutes with over-the-canopy construction but better than t' budget chute. Like t' higher end products, matey, shiver me timbers, it comes with a swivel and has a more efficient form factor than just a round chute.

Then, me hearties, as I was writin' this review, matey, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I referenced an article entitled "T' Great Parachute Drift Off" written by Bruce Kilby (High Power Rocketry, arrr, December 1988). Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Bruce analyzed and tested 38 chutes from 9 manufacturers. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' quote his conclusions: "If price were no object, me bucko, most of us would probably use t' best, t' strongest, and t' most attractive 'chutes available....However, matey, all t' 'chutes tested passed t' 50 MPH shock test. Ahoy! Blimey! All the 'chutes can support your rocket for a gentle landing, me hearties, and all t' 'chutes tested have about t' same drift rate. Begad! Begad! For t' majority o' flights t' cheapest 'chute will work just as well as t' most expensive 'chute tested."

This conclusion fits me experience and leads t' me rating. Avast! I generally don't consider t' cost in a 'technical' rating, ya bilge rat, but in this case I feel you have to.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
To date I have flown this chute in me NCR Archer (recovery weight ~49oz) and my Upscale BLU-97B Cluster Bomb (a lighter 37oz rocket but has foamboard fins). Ahoy! The Archer deployed at apogee and t' Cluster Bomb is light for this sized chute. Arrr! I know these flights don't represent a 'stress test' for this product but I can only report t' data I have. Begad! Arrr!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a nice lookin' and sturdy parachute that is a good value for t' money. It packs well and suits me needs well. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I like that a 1000lb swivel is included.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5