ThirstyBarbarian
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- Feb 11, 2013
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I have a Warlock that weighs about 8 lbs with a spent motor, and it came with a flat LOC chute described as a 60" chute, which is probably closer to 58". I have not flown an altimeter on this rocket, so I don't know the exact descent rate, but it looks like it lands hard, and it tends to swing a lot during descent, and I have had to fix the fins a few times. I want to get a better chute for it, and have been looking at Spherachutes.
How do I compare the two different kinds of chutes, and what it the standard way of measuring a hemispherical chute?
Below is an image from the Sphearchutes website that shows the measurement as going "over the top" -- 1/2 the circumference of the sphere. Is that standard? The reason I ask is that I've seen some discussions of hemispherical chutes that say things like "A 24-inch hemispherical chute is equal to a 36-inch flat chute because the surface area is the same." But that can be true measured this way. It seems like it could only be true if the measurement were across the opening. Is there a standard method?
I'm interested in knowing how the measurement is typically done, but I'm even MORE interested in knowing what size Spherachute I should pick to have a softer landing than the 60" flat chute I am using. I'm leaning toward a 72" Spherachute, and have emailed some questions to Spherachutes, but I was wondering what others on TRF thought.
Thanks!
How do I compare the two different kinds of chutes, and what it the standard way of measuring a hemispherical chute?
Below is an image from the Sphearchutes website that shows the measurement as going "over the top" -- 1/2 the circumference of the sphere. Is that standard? The reason I ask is that I've seen some discussions of hemispherical chutes that say things like "A 24-inch hemispherical chute is equal to a 36-inch flat chute because the surface area is the same." But that can be true measured this way. It seems like it could only be true if the measurement were across the opening. Is there a standard method?
I'm interested in knowing how the measurement is typically done, but I'm even MORE interested in knowing what size Spherachute I should pick to have a softer landing than the 60" flat chute I am using. I'm leaning toward a 72" Spherachute, and have emailed some questions to Spherachutes, but I was wondering what others on TRF thought.
Thanks!