Summary
The purpose of this test is to test extraction of the main parachute. Tow testing is a relatively cheap and easy way to test this.
Introduction
Overview of how the test is run.
Who is needed?
Driver, passenger, observer
Testing locations
Location requirements and weather dependencies: dry conditions, not too windy (<5 mph), at least a mile of runway to perform test
Locations: Berwick, Crow Island
Materials
list
- 3 GoPro with mount - ask Sam Austin, Charlie Garcia, Maddie Garcia
- 1000 ft. of line of breaking strength above 200 lbs
- Parachute
- Parachute bag
- 1/2 in. stake
- Big hammer
- 16 ft. of webbing (breaking strength > 300 lbs) to mount parachute bag
- Cardboard box or camp stand
- Printed copy of procedure
- Line separator
- Sand bags
- Line to tie parachute for repacking
- 4 quick links
- Scissors
- Lighter
- Clipboard
- Folding table to pack parachute on
- Parachute packing procedure - parachute should not be connected to the bag
- Tripods for cameras
- Traffic cone/markers/stakes at 500 ft. and 1000 ft.
- Thread
Setup
- Contact whoever is in charge of launch/main test about rental cars (make sure the vehicle meets requirements)
- Rent car
Packing:
- Bring parachute packing procedure - parachute should not be connected to the bag
- At least the night before, pack all of necessary materials
- Pack parachute on folding table
Selection location
Renting car and vehicle requirements: at least a mid-size SUV,
People to contact about logistics
What to print before the test: procedure
Procedures
Preparing for the test
- Print all necessary procedures
- Check cameras (battery level and memory space)
- Verify I know how to work slow-mo
- Pack all necessary materials
Setting up the test
- Use line to measure 1500 ft. of "runway"
- Drive stake into the ground
- Pack parachute
- Mount parachute and camera to back of SUV
- Place 2 cameras on tripods at the end of the line
- Wind line in figure 8 by stake
- Make a loop in the line to tie a piece of thread that is shorter than the line to the parachute
Performing the test
Conclusion
Analyzing the results
- Inspect parachute for tears and burns
- Inspect bag for tears and burns
- When watching video, see if the lines come out before the parachute, how the unlocking of the locking loop worked, smoothness of extraction
Logging the test and results
- Make a wiki page
Variations on the test
- Short blurb about what else we could do with the tow test