Very small nylon parachutes?

[SolarYellow]

I'm building a small rocket and looking for a drogue. The OR sim gives me ~60 ft/sec descent speed with a 6-inch chute. I can use the Estes 6-in, but don't really love it. Could go smaller, to 5-in., and have OK descent speed. Can't find either in nylon. Have a sewing machine, but don't want to break it out for this. The smallest nylon chute I can find is a Top Flight 9-in., which is too big.

Reluctant to use a streamer, because I don't want it longer length to interfere with the main when it opens.

Can anyone point me toward a 5- or 6-inch nylon chute, or do I just need to KISS and use the Estes?

 

[cwbullet]

I'm building a small rocket and looking for a drogue. The OR sim gives me ~60 ft/sec descent speed with a 6-inch chute. I can use the Estes 6-in, but don't really love it. Could go smaller, to 5-in., and have OK descent speed. Can't find either in nylon. Have a sewing machine, but don't want to break it out for this. The smallest nylon chute I can find is a Top Flight 9-in., which is too big.

Reluctant to use a streamer, because I don't want it longer length to interfere with the main when it opens.

Can anyone point me toward a 5- or 6-inch nylon chute, or do I just need to KISS and use the Estes?

I am not tracking a smaller nylon chute. You may have to go Estes or sew it.

 

[Bill S]

Top Flight does thin-mil chutes as small as 9". He says he does custom work, so maybe drop him a note and ask?

https://topflightrecoveryllc.homestead.com/page1.html

 

[OzHybrid]

Streamer? At that size a chute isn't going to have any shape to it. Can you use a streamer instead?

 

[kalsow]

You could use a twist-tie to reef the shroud lines making a 9" chute perform like a 5-6" one.

 

[dhbarr]

I've upgraded toughness of a few smaller plastic chutes by cutting the old lines off, adding binder reinforcement on both sides of the holes, using kevlar thread, and cutting a spill hole.

 

[Kane]

Spherachutes has small 4.5", 5.5" , and 6.5" chutes
I use Spherachutes almost exclusively. Great quality and reasonable price.

 

[sharkbait]

Spherachutes has small 4.5", 5.5" , and 6.5" chutes
I use Spherachutes almost exclusively. Great quality and reasonable price.

Julie is the coolest and outstanding customer service, buying new, custom work, or repairs

 

[bobbyg23]

I'm building a small rocket and looking for a drogue. The OR sim gives me ~60 ft/sec descent speed with a 6-inch chute. I can use the Estes 6-in, but don't really love it. Could go smaller, to 5-in., and have OK descent speed. Can't find either in nylon. Have a sewing machine, but don't want to break it out for this. The smallest nylon chute I can find is a Top Flight 9-in., which is too big.

Reluctant to use a streamer, because I don't want it longer length to interfere with the main when it opens.

Can anyone point me toward a 5- or 6-inch nylon chute, or do I just need to KISS and use the Estes?

You need to go to the best parachute dealer out there! Spherechutes
https://spherachutes.com/

 

[SolarYellow]

Checked out Spherachutes this evening. Will definitely keep them in mind!

 

[kjhambrick]

Checked out Spherachutes this evening. Will definitely keep them in mind!

Me too.

That 4.5 inch drogue is certainly a cutie, especially if I get a hot pink one

-- kjh

 

[3stoogesrocketry]

I'm building a small rocket and looking for a drogue. The OR sim gives me ~60 ft/sec descent speed with a 6-inch chute. I can use the Estes 6-in, but don't really love it. Could go smaller, to 5-in., and have OK descent speed. Can't find either in nylon. Have a sewing machine, but don't want to break it out for this. The smallest nylon chute I can find is a Top Flight 9-in., which is too big.

Reluctant to use a streamer, because I don't want it longer length to interfere with the main when it opens.

Can anyone point me toward a 5- or 6-inch nylon chute, or do I just need to KISS and use the Estes?

Buy a 9 inch and cut a spill hole in the middle?