This was just extra protection from the ejection charge.
I wanted to clarify that I use a smaller square of wadding, maybe 3 inches square. The smaller sized square allows the parachute to open easier.
If the wadding were close to or over the top of the parachute it might prevent it from opening up!
Agreed. I made the mistake of wrapping a full square of wadding around my parachute and it didn't open. Luckily, I only had to glue the fins back on after that landing.
ReplyDeleteHi Lonnie,
DeleteI thought I'd better do a second post and be more clear on the parachute wadding wrap. I saw somebody try this at a club launch and they twisted the wadding over the parachute top!
Ideally the wadding should "peel" back and off the chute off at ejection. The extra wadding wrap protects from any ejection blow-by. Parachutes open when using this short wrap. Sorry to hear about the hard landing.