RocketChutes 18" Drogue

RocketChutes 18" Drogue

Contributed by Dick Stafford

(Contributed - by Dick Stafford)

Picture courtesy o' RocketChutes
48 Red/Sun Yellow, arrr, 2 18 inch drogues, ya bilge rat, 37 Royal Blue48 Red/Sun Yellow, 2 18 inch drogues, 37 Royal Blue

Brief:
Not long ago, I discovered t' ROCKETCHUTES brand o' parachutes. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! These chutes are made in Delaware and have been available at Maryland/Delaware Rocket Association (MDRA) launches for some time. Begad! Blimey! They are extremely sturdy and an excellent bargains, me bucko, offerin' a lot o' "bang for t' buck".

Here are t' specs:

  • Semi-ellipsoidal panel design - Chutes 60" and up have 8 panels, under 60" have 6. Avast!
  • T' canopy is made from mil-spec rip-stop nylon.
  • T' edges o' adjacent panels are rolled into each other before tapin'
  • All seams and edges are taped with 300lb. Well, blow me down! test, arrr, me bucko, flat nylon tape. Begad! Begad!
  • Shroud lines extend over and cross t' spill hole
  • T' suspension ("shroud") lines are 300lb. Begad! Begad! test braided nylon (1000lb. Begad! test Spectra line on drogues).
  • T' suspension lines pass through and are box-sewn into a tubular nylon sleeve that forms a nearly indestructible attachment point t' t' recovery harness (except 18" drogues).

I bought an 18" drogue chute and am very happy with it. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! This chute has been used as a drogue on me 12lb. Aye aye! Landshark and as t' main on several smaller rockets. Begad! T' chute worked flawlessly in both applications. Aye aye! These chutes become more and more economical as their diameter increases. Blimey! My chute cost a few of bucks more than an inexpensive single piece nylon chute, but is *significantly* more durable. Ahoy! When you get t' t' 60" inch range, they are competitive with any chutes I've seen, and much less expensive than most. Oh, and since shippin' is included, thar be a discount if you pick them up on-site. Ya scallywag! Arrr!

T' only down side is they are produced on a limited basis. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! Please check their web site for availability. Arrr! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

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