https://www.stumpsparty.com/silver-metallic-streamers/p/STMM-SIL-HDR?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6IHkreW-3wIVFcJkCh333gqOEAQYAyABEgIkxfD_BwE
David,
James and I have been using metallic streamers for the past 4 years and I
believe they are the cheapest, most reliable (visual) tracking system you can
buy. Even with my poor old man eye sight, I can track minimum diameter rockets
down from 8000’+ feet, as any minimal sun lighting glints off the streamer. We
put them on everything, 2” width on Estes to hobby rockets, 4” on high Power.
Any length longer than about 4 feet tend to “self-shorten” on the way down.
Sometimes we’ll add a second streamer beside the first securely fastened to the
shock cord with packing tape for redundancy. They also add excellent
visibility on the ground as well, as we’ve able to locate several “misplaced”
rockets literally from miles out on the lakebed. I believe Kurt G. even found
one his stray K550 powered rockets that had wandered away on a windy day the
following weekend, having caught sight of the glint from away off the lakebed.
We concur with Mr. Smith!
Chris Kobel
From: roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:roc-chat-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of David Erbas-White
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2018 3:48 PM
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Re: What color is your parachute?
On 12/26/2018 11:42 AM, David P Smith (Redacted sender dave_w6dps for DMARC)
wrote:
I'd thought about the flashing streamer, but was a little worried that it might
tangle the shock cord or shroud lines, or would tear to easily to be
worthwhile. On the other hand, it's worth trying (at least for my test
flight). Do you have any particular recommendation for sources, or should I
just look at my local party store?
I'd also thought about something WAY too esoteric, and ultimately realized
pointless to try. Many years (decades?) ago, I was involved in use of strobe
lights for a military program, and I got the crazy idea to put a small powered
strobe - then realized the G-forces are going to annihilate the flash tube...
David Erbas-White
I have also started putting some metallic streamer material near the drogue.
The flashing from the streamer is easier to see from a distance where the
parachute color is irrelevant.
A couple of pieces 3 or 4 feet long tied in the middle on the shock cord
greatly increases visibility.
As for color, I tend to go with fluorescent orange or green. I haven't noticed
any advantage to multi-color or patterned.
David P Smith
NAR 78668, TRA 15803, L2
Amateur Extra, W6DPS
On Wednesday, December 26, 2018 08:44:01 AM PST, David
Erbas-White <derbas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx><mailto:derbas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
No, really...
This is not an ad for a book...
For higher-altitude (i.e. Level 3 certification and such) flights, what
color do folks find most useful for spotting the rocket, for both drogue
and main? And do you find it easier to spot a single-color parachute,
or a two-colored (or more) parachute? If multi-colored, is there a
combination that seems most visible? Differences in parachutes you've
noticed on a clear, completely blue sky day vs. a slightly hazy day?
Different colors for the main making any difference if you see it at a
distance (since hopefully the main is coming out slightly before
touchdown), when the rocket is low, but at some distance from the viewer?
Enquiring minds want to know (well, at least one mind)...
David Erbas-White
P.S. Yes, I've seen a zillion launches - but I really DON'T launch my
own rockets out of sight (on purpose), and my vision is so poor that I'm
generally not the guy who sees the deployment, and even if I see it, I
can't necessarily make out what color the chute is. That's why I figure
the guys who HAVE launched to high altitude can rightfully comment on
things like, "My fluorescent pink chute worked really well for spotting
it" or "My lime green drogue really sucks for visibility"
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