Rocketman Drogue Parachute

Rocketman Enterprises - Drogue Parachute

Contributed by Bob Thompson

Published: 2010-11-13
Manufacturer: Rocketman Enterprises
[TRA][HPR Magazine]

T' followin' article is from "High Power Rocketry" magazine. Begad! This information represents only a small portion o' t' contents o' "High Power Rocketry". Ahoy! We strongly suggest that you subscribe t' "High Power Rocketry". Avast, me proud beauty! By doin' so you will find many color pictures, me bucko, articles, me hearties, launch reports and projects primarily associated with High Power Rocketry activities.  For more information, ya bilge rat, use the two links above.




(High Power Rocketry - June 1998 - page 10 - by Sunny Thompson and Bob Sisk) 

   Rocket Man has an incredibly strong drogue 'chute which is made o' t' same material as car air bags. Ahoy! This is a special application 'chute and t' last time I checked, matey, shiver me timbers, it was nay cheap but it makes a killer drogue for big, heavy cert three projects. (When you compare t' cost of the 'chute t' t' cost o' a cert three project I guess it is cheap.)

   I have recommended Rocket Man's "indestructible drogue" t' several people who were workin' on cert three projects when they asked for advice about drogue 'chutes. Begad! This is one tough 'chute.  One of t' people who asked be Keith Forbes from Georgia. Arrr! Keith asked a lot of questions. This is good. Blimey! This is good. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' time t' ask questions is before the flight. Begad!

    Most people think a drogue 'chute's purpose is "to slow down t' rocket." Ain't so. Aye aye! Drag will slow down your rocket if you separate it at apogee. A drogue 'chute, ya bilge rat, when properly used, me hearties, will keep the pieces from bangin' into each other or gettin' all tangled up on t' way down. Avast! A drogue's purpose is t' maintain t' desired distance and t' desired orientation o' all t' parts." Slowin' t' rocket down" is secondary.

    By t' way, Keith Forbes is now cert three. He used a Rocket Man heavy-duty drogue, me hearties, matey, popped at t' top and let t' whole thin' free fall in from over 9,000 feet, blew two main 'chutes at 750 feet and nailed it. T' drogue be only 2' wide but it kept everythin' well apart on t' way down. Not a scratch on anything.  One o' t' prettiest cert three's I have ever seen. Avast! It's a real pleasure t' sign t' cert three paperwork on a flight like this. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Congratulations Keith! You done good.

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