Parachute Launchers

What's people's thought on parachute launchers these days?

Mine are springs currently, but as I redo things I am wondering about air?

Thoughts?.......

Thanks.

 

I went from spring launchers to air launchers. Also changes from stroud heavy bag 420 chutes to 10ft air bosses for the 1/8th. I also think you could get away with 8ft ones for more weight savings. Mcamis offers carbon carbon fiber backing plate and plungers. But it saves maybe 2lbs and cost over $400. I opted for the hole saw method and and 1/2 nuts on everything he supplied. I saved almost 4lbs that way! The launchers are very easy to pack for my wife. No more violent spring trying to take her face off she says. Lol

 

If the "wife" is happy then we are all usually happy.

Are air launchers in general turning out to be reliable and goof-proof?

It was always drilled into my brain that "you can never run out of spring, but you can run out of air...."

I like the air idea though.

Thx.

 

Make sure to put a one way valve in the air line close to the parachute launchers....just in case there is an air line failure somewhere in the system the check valve keeps pressure against the air cylinders....

We had a very interesting air situation back in 2006 at KCIR....Sean said he thought that the throttle was closing just before the finish line....so we popped the chutes in the pit and sure enough, the sudden drop in air pressure was partially closing the throttle blades (had air controlled throttle for leaving)....so I installed a check valve in the throttle and and also the chute launcher line for safety....

 

I have a small led wired to a hobbit switch from Lahee from my old 6 shooter days. That when it drops below 250 psi the led turns off on my switch panel. I haven't seen it turn off yet. However the one thing that takes a minute to get used to is taking all the air out of the co2 lines to repack it.

 

To pack the chutes, we turn off the air at the bottle - then bleed the air using the air toggle switch located on the back of the car near the cylinders....just be sure to keep the air turned off and air line purged when working on the car in the pit area....if someone walked by and flipped the air switch, the launchers will slam out under pressure without the chutes in the bags...they could hurt someone...

 

We had air launchers on a funny car i worked on. Very nice to pack chutes, never had an air line issue. I'd like them on my FED but space doesn't permit.

 

When we ran a Lencodrive - I had a Hobbs switch in the transbrake circuit....creating an open circuit when the trans was in high gear (when air was applied to the shift pod)...just a safety thing...