Re:The age of electric flight is finally upon us
by sandworm101 on Sunday June 23, 2019 @09:23PM
(#20259848)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgfG2DfPB6I
(Action starts at about 02:05)
I guess it depends on one's definition of low altitude. Rocket-deployed parachutes open very fast.
Re:The age of electric flight is finally upon us
by mannykannot on Monday June 24, 2019 @07:45AM
(#20262498)
With respect to engine failure at takeoff, low altitude begins at the point where, if the engine fails, you will not be able complete a landing on a runway (or overrun area, if there is one.) With respect to my original question, if the remaining engines give sufficient performance, using a parachute would not be the standard response even if you had the height and speed for it to work.
Actually, this has me thinking: not all low-altitude situations are the same - an airplane with a downwards trajectory, such as one in a spiral dive, will need more height to save than one that is in a glide, such as after a power failure. This is why even a zero-zero ejector seat will not always save you, if you are descending rapidly at low altitude.
Even so, replacing a motor, if that is all it takes, is going to be cheaper than repairing or replacing an airframe that has undergone a parachute recovery.