'Chutes Standard On Cirrus LSA, Lancair Evolution

What do Diamond's jet, the Cirrus SRS light sport aircraft entry and the Lancair Evolution have in common? They're new -- and they're parachute-equipped.

With a nod to a week filled with new aircraft announcements aplenty, BRS President Larry Williams said, "We're proud to be part of all that. Our systems are on the number one selling LSA, (the Flight Design CTSW) and the number one selling aircraft, the Cirrus," Williams said. 

Williams added his company is working with LAMA to establish guidelines for weight limits on light sport aircraft.

"We want to make sure that people aren't skimping on safety equipment" when working toward a maximum weight, Williams said. And then, there are the jets.

"We're pleased to see the vast majority of single-engine jets planning for parachutes," Williams said. "I can never remember a time in BRS history when there were this many announcements at this show."

The jets pose a challenge, though. "Our biggest challenge is dealing with the weight," Williams said. "Parachutes don't scale up very well. We're working with different canopy designs. Others have used multiple parachutes, and we tried as many as seven parachutes before, but they have added weight and complexity. They're also five times as expensive."

Williams also said the jet systems will interface with the jet's systems, to lower the landing gear and best configure the aircraft for deployment and a vertical landing.

Since partnering with CIMSA (Ingenieria de Sistemas SA), the company ramped up research and development efforts, "With particular emphasis on the development," Williams said.

With CIMSA on board as the second largest shareholder, "We've announced many programs. When you see the video of us dropping test rigs, those drops are expensive."

Williams said CIMSA'S expertise in precision delivery systems and ram air canopies benefit the company's development.

BRS is constructing a new, 25,000 ft. facility on the airport at South St. Paul, MN.

"Every time we built a 5500 series, we had to stretch the lines through a door and into a hallway," Williams said. BRS products may soon be available in a new color -- olive drab -- at least to one prospective customer, the government.

This development may lead to significantly larger canopies, as well. Williams showcased a video of a recent test drop -- a 6,879 lb. cargo drop from a Fairchild C-123 "Provider." This test showcased a 25 percent over gross for the intended 5,500 lb. load.

"We dropped that and let it accelerate to about 180 to 185 knots," Williams said. "This was an ultimate load test."

The video showed the cargo floating to the ground under a giant canopy.

"You don't have to be an engineer to see how slow this descent is -- and this is 25 percent over the maximum loading," Williams said. "If you think the Cirrus parachutes are big, wait until you see this."

FMI: www.brsparachutes.com, www.cimsa.com