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How many feet does it take for a skydiving parachute to open?

I was wondering how many feet it takes for a skydiving parachute to open. Please list your source.

Public Comments

  1. i would think b4 u hit the ground. me myself as soon as i jump im pullin
  2. the stated question has many varibles including 1. what velocity you are traveling at (how fast you are accelerating)it takes about 10 seconds to reach your terminal velocity at about 120 mph 2. size of pilot chute (a pilot chute it is a smaller chute that remains open through most of the duritation of the jump. it is what helps the main chute open. larger pilot chutes are used primarily for base jumps because the elevation is lesser and the parachute must open quicker) paratroopers use a device called static line or direct bag. this devise is connected to the object being jumped from to the chute. how it works is it stretches out the parachute as the jumper falls, before separating it allows the parachute to inflate. 3. aerodynamics of the person et al.
  3. the distance you travel during the opening sequence is a function of the type of canopy, the packing method and your velocity and altitude. When I pull my main at terminal velocity it takes about 700 to 900 feet for free fall for the canopy to open. My reserve on the other hand would be completely open and flying in less than 400 feet. If I deploy the parachute as soon as I exit the aircraft I can open in the prop blast and be open on or nearly on the same level of the aircraft.
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