Dragon Chutes

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DragonRocketry

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Well, I been asked a few times if I was going to build chutes again. I have thought about this for some time now and have decided that since there is interest that I would make chutes and other recovery items again. I will be doing Parabolic cupped chutes and Hemispherical chutes. See the list below. I hope to be up and running by mid-December. If there is any size you are interested in, let me know and I will put those at the top of the to do list. Colors will vary but there will always be one dark and one bright color. I will not be doing any custom orders for now, maybe in the future. I will be listing them on my site as I get them made.

Parabolic Cupped Chute
Model NumberWeight lbsDescent Rate fpsWeight lbsDescent Rate fpsPrice
DR-3
0.85​
15​
1.5​
20​
$35.00​
DR-4
1.5​
15​
2.7​
20​
$46.00​
DR-5
2.25​
15​
4.2​
20​
$58.00​
DR-6
3.4​
15​
6​
20​
$69.00​
DR-7
4.5​
15​
8.2​
20​
$80.00​
DR-8
6​
15​
10.7​
20​
$92.00​
DR-9
7.6​
15​
13.5​
20​
$103.00​
DR-10
9.5​
15​
16.7​
20​
$115.00​
DR-12
13.5​
15​
24​
20​
$138.00​
DR-14
18.5​
15​
32.7​
20​
$161.00​
DR-16
24​
15​
42.7​
20​
$184.00​
DR-18
30.5​
15​
54.3​
20​
$207.00​
DR-D3
9.5​
50​
21​
75​
$40.00​
DR-D4
17​
50​
38​
75​
$51.00​
DR-D5
26​
50​
60​
75​
$63.00​
DR-D series are Drogue Chutes
Hemispherical Chute
Model NumberWeight lbsDescent Rate fpsWeight lbsDescent Rate fpsPrice
DR-H18
0.7​
15​
1.25​
20​
$25.00​
DR-H24
1.25​
15​
2.25​
20​
$31.00​
DR-H36
2.8​
15​
5​
20​
$50.00​
DR-H48
5​
15​
9​
20​
$62.00​
DR-H60
8​
15​
12​
20​
$87.00​
DR-H72
11​
15​
19​
20​
$125.00​
DR-H84
15​
15​
25​
20​
$150.00​
DR-H96
19​
15​
33​
20​
$187.00​
DR-H120
31​
15​
56​
20​
$250.00​
DR-H144
44​
15​
77​
20​
$300.00​
DR-H168
60​
15​
105​
20​
$375.00​
DR-H192
80​
15​
140​
20​
$450.00​

19237-e5bd3b867145be6d8e2233f63b069cdb.jpg
chute1jpg.jpg
 
This is great. Seems to be so few recovery vendors out there. For the cupped parabolics, does the last number in the model number stand for the diameter? Will you have packing volume available? What's the CD for these?
 
This is great. Seems to be so few recovery vendors out there. For the cupped parabolics, does the last number in the model number stand for the diameter? Will you have packing volume available? What's the CD for these?
For say a DR-8 that would be the size of the canopy. 8' from one side to the other over the canopy. At some point I will have packing sizes. I had this info but cannot find the old file, so I will need to redo these as I have time. The CD when designing these was based on a CD of 1 but ended up being more like .85. The weight to speed on the charts is true numbers from real flight data at 2100' above sea level.
 
0.85 for both the parabolic and elliptical?

I get somewhat frustrated at the lack of measurement and performance standardization for recovery gear. The charts are fine, but often times a rocket falls at the extreme ends of the range provided or you want to have options for variable launch conditions so it can be difficult to derive from the tables.

Regardless, I look forward to seeing these as you develop them.


For say a DR-8 that would be the size of the canopy. 8' from one side to the other over the canopy. At some point I will have packing sizes. I had this info but cannot find the old file, so I will need to redo these as I have time. The CD when designing these was based on a CD of 1 but ended up being more like .85. The weight to speed on the charts is true numbers from real flight data at 2100' above sea level.
 
There is a few sizes listed my site and will be adding more through the week.

6A2AC27F-75D6-4671-8A22-63A4D2ED0C67.jpeg
 
I'd be interested in a parabolic cupped for a 54mm build I'm working on. I'd need the packing volume though. I suspect for the DR-4. I'll keep an eye on your site
 
I'd be interested in a parabolic cupped for a 54mm build I'm working on. I'd need the packing volume though. I suspect for the DR-4. I'll keep an eye on your site
The following is based on 54mm tubing. This is not a tight compressed fold, so there is room to make it smaller and also this is just the chute (no fire blanket or deployment bag)
DR-3 needs 3.5"
DR-4 needs 5"
DR-5 needs 6.5"
DR-6 needs 9"
 
I have one of each of the following chutes. Will be adding more but got to wait on my ripstop order.

DR-3 thru DR-10
DR-H36
 
Nice. I think I'm on the cusp between the DR-4 and DR-5.
What weight fabric are you using? 0.66 oz (lightweight), 1.3 oz, 1.9?
Trying to get a sense of chute weight so I can plug it into my simulations.

The following is based on 54mm tubing. This is not a tight compressed fold, so there is room to make it smaller and also this is just the chute (no fire blanket or deployment bag)
DR-3 needs 3.5"
DR-4 needs 5"
DR-5 needs 6.5"
DR-6 needs 9"
 
Nice. I think I'm on the cusp between the DR-4 and DR-5.
What weight fabric are you using? 0.66 oz (lightweight), 1.3 oz, 1.9?
Trying to get a sense of chute weight so I can plug it into my simulations.
These are 1.9 oz. DR-4 weight is 2.5 oz DR-5 weight is 3.5 oz
 
Looking good! What machine(s) are you using for your sewing? It looks like you know what you are doing. This is great!
Ken
All my machines are Singers. I have 2 heavy duty and one standard sewing machines. I also have 2 sergers, one setup for doing nomex and the other is setup to do edging on chutes.
 
Got my hemispherical chute and a couple of the parabolic cupped drogues today and just finished touching them. Mmm mmm! Tasty! They are well made and heavy duty. Thread looks like a tex 100 size or something heavy-duty of that nature, fabric is nice ripstop like a 1.9oz maybe. I have a couple of builds on deck that will be utilizing the drogues. Great work!
Ken
 
Got my hemispherical chute and a couple of the parabolic cupped drogues today and just finished touching them. Mmm mmm! Tasty! They are well made and heavy duty. Thread looks like a tex 100 size or something heavy-duty of that nature, fabric is nice ripstop like a 1.9oz maybe. I have a couple of builds on deck that will be utilizing the drogues. Great work!
Ken
Glad you like them. The material is 1.9 oz and the thread is TEX 70
 
First one of the Lite series is ready to go. This is a DR-6L and packs in 7” of 54mm tube compared to a DR-6 that takes 9” of a 54mm tube.

F564A844-9081-45D0-AEA6-338DFB719E4D.jpeg
 
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