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

B2 Rocketry - Sky Angle Parachute
(High Power Rocketry - June 1998 - page 10 - by Sunny Thompson and Bob Sisk) 

     If you took higher math, it's t' "B sub two Rocketry Company." If not, it's t' B2 Rocketry Company. I did, so I'll call it t' B sub 2 Rocketry Company. Begad! Better yet, I'll just call it "Sky Angle."  These 'chutes are in a word, excellent! They also offer quite a selection o' available colors but their construction is what impressed me.

   There are, shiver me timbers, for t' most part, two kinds o' material-related failures in parachutes; canopy material rips and broken shroud lines. Begad! (I don't consider toastin' a 'chute t' be a material-related failure but as improper prepping.) T' sewin' on these 'chutes is as good as any I have seen although I will be t' first t' admit that I am nay a seamstress. Blimey! T' shroud lines go all t' way over t' canopy, just like I like 'em. Begad! Ya scallywag! Sky Angle 'chutes use 950-pound, ya bilge rat, mill spec tubular nylon for their shroud lines. Ya scallywag! Begad! I like this a lot. Well, blow me down! I like this a lot. Begad! Most 'chute failures are broken shroud lines as a result o' early or late deployment.  You are goin' t' have t' work hard t' break t' shroud lines on a Sky Angle 'chute. This stuff is strong, very strong. Arrr! This stuff is strong, very strong. Well, blow me down! Avast! Many people, ya bilge rat, includin' me, me hearties, me hearties, use t' same material for "static line" in recovery system rigging.  I have never broken a tubular nylon static line. Begad! Can't say that about any other rocket parts.

   Rocket Science, arrr, ya bilge rat, Starflight Industries and Rocket Man all carry t' same tubular nylon for use in recovery systems.  There is at least one other parachute company that will use t' same tubular nylon on their 'chutes as a custom modification. Ahoy! . Arrr! . Avast! Avast! for an extra $10.  However, shiver me timbers, this feature is standard on Sky Angle 'chutes at no extra cost.  (I'd like t' see R-12 and R-14 'chutes come with t' same tubular nylon, me hearties, as standard. Well, blow me down! Big 'chutes really need it.)

   It is possible, me hearties, through bad luck or by just nay havin' any idea what you are doing, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' destroy one o' these 'chutes by deployin' it at 400+ miles per hour and blowin' out one or more panels.  All HPR 'chutes are designed t' be deployed at or near apogee. Arrr! They just don't work very well if they are deployed at 500 mph and at 100 feet AGL, although I have seen more than a few try it. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I know what I'm talkin' about. Aye aye! One o' t' idiots I saw try this was me.

   You can instantly spot a Sky Angle 'chute.  Sky Angle 'chutes revolve as they come down. Avast, me proud beauty! This would normally result in twisted shroud lines but Sky Angle 'chutes all come with an in-line, arrr, 1000-pound swivel and it works. Aye aye! No twisted shroud lines. No twisted shroud lines. It would be a good idea t' put one drop o' "3 in 1" oil inside t' swivel.  If you get mud in t' swivel, matey, me hearties, wash it, dry it and add another drop or two o' oil when you are finished. Ya scallywag! That's about all t' maintenance required.

   Warning: If you use threaded (hex) rod connectors in your recovery set-up, me bucko, be forewarned that if anythin' causes your parachute swivel t' fail (like dirt or crud) it could cause t' in-line rod connector t' unscrew itself and , well, arrr, you can guess t' rest.  This applied t' any 'chute that spins on t' way down.