Article by Earl R. Allen
I know most aerobatic pilots always wear a parachute when practicing. This short story is for those of us who don't.
While practicing for an upcoming contest, a friend of min, Ed Dennis, was flying my Pitts with a borrowed Security chute. I should note that both Ed and myself have practiced many hours before without a chute. After all, we all know you can't hurt yourself in a Pitts...
Getting back to my story - Ed was about 8,000 feet and entered an outside loop. He got a little slow on the top so tried a half snap to the inside position so as to complete the second half of an inside loop, but he was already too slow and ended up in a flat inverted spin. To make the best of it he decided to go three turns and recover. After all, two other Pitts were flying with him and he didn't want them to think he blew a maneuver - especially since it's impossible to do in a Pitts...
Well, anyway, after three fast turns, he tried to recover and the aircraft didn't seem to respond so after what seemed an hour, but was actually about 20 seconds and approaching 2,000 feet AGL, he decided to punch out and explain to me later what happened to my airplane.
As soon as he let go of the controls and reached for the belts, the aircraft came out of the spin and was flying again before he had a chance to get out. No baffled and a little shook up, he climbed up to 10,000 feet and tried about five more outside spins all of which the aircraft had no problem recovering from.
Now then, the only thing we could figure out about the incident was that Ed was aggravating the spin the whole time rather than taking time to use the normal recovery process. The point I am trying to make is even though Ed didn't use the chute, it did in a sense save his life and my aircraft. If he hadn't been wearing it, he may have well aggravated the aircraft into the ground.
I now have a placard in my Pitts, No Chute - No Acro.
NOTICE
I. The comments and suggestions contained in this article are based on the general observations of the author. As such, no endorsement or guarantee of any product mentioned herein is intended. In all case of conflict between manufacturer's instructions and contents herein, the former should be adhered to and followed.
II. The author, IAC & EAA present this material for reference only, and expressly deny any and all liability, express or implied, which may result from the use of the suggestions or statements contained herein by any party. Any such party using the suggestions or statements herein, does so at his own risk and without recourse.
III. As a condition of use of the information contained herein, and in consideration of the furnishing thereof, the reader, for himself and his administrators, executors, heirs and assigns, agrees to forever hold harmless and defined the author, IAC and/or the EAA (including any members, officers, directors, agents or employees thereof) from any and all liability or damage fo any nature regardless of cause, to reader or any third person, which may result from the use of said materials.
