Streamer recovery question

[scott johnson]

I see a lot of folks folding their streamers into "accordion" pleats. What is the advantage of pleating the streamer? Back in the old days we just rolled them up and stuffed them into the body tube. I'm a retread and am doing a lot of catching up!

 

[dhbarr]

The NAR competition reports suggest accordion + scorpion is a pretty clear hangtime winner.

https://www.nar.org/contest-flying/competition-guide/duration-events/streamer-duration/

 

[KarlS]

The accordion fold creates more drag than a smooth streamer.

 

[scott johnson]

"The accordion fold creates more drag than a smooth streamer"

ah, so obvious now.....I should have seen that off the bat! I guess the crepe streamers we used in 1975 had plenty of drag!