C-ASTRAL Bramor ppX Parachute Folding

 Introduction

One of the platforms in Purdue UAS' fleet is the C-Astral Bramor ppX. The Bramor is a fixed wing aircraft used for surveying and remote sensing. This platform uses a catapult launch system. For landing, the Bramor uses a parachute to slow its descent to the landing area. In UAS operations involving the Bramor, the parachute must be folded soon before flights. The parachutes are not stored in a folded state. This is a safety precaution to ensure that the parachute is properly folded before all flights. Early in AT319, students learned how to properly fold the Bramor parachute. Students were given a pass/fail test on this procedure later in the semester.

Bramor ppX Parchute Components

Before folding any parachutes, the class had to familiarize themselves with the parachute components.

Bramor PPX Parachute Components (Bramor User Manual)

After learning the parachute components and watching tutorials, students practiced folding the parachutes. Students were separated into groups of two and asked to make video tutorials of their own on the parachute folding process. Listed below are the steps for folding the Bramor parachute.

C-Astral Bramor ppX Parachute Folding (With Pictures)

1. Inspect the canopy for any tears or other damage. Air the parachute.

    Before folding can begin, the parachute needs to be aired out. This is done by holding the parachute from the main parachute chord with one hand and holding the suspension lines with the other hand. Pull the parachute horizontally from side to side, by the suspension lines, to air out the canopy. The canopy should fully expand with each side pull.

2. Untangle the suspension lines and break line.

    Check the suspension lines for tangling. The break should be able to freely move from each end of the suspension line. The break and suspension lines should be checked throughout folding to ensure nothing gets tangled in the process.

3. Place the parachute on a flat surface with the gores extended (not crumpled or balled up).

4. Tape the suspension lines near the canopy to prevent tangling while folding.

5. Individually fold all of the gores so they are all stacked on one side.

Parachute on flat surface with gores folded to one side.

6. Fold half (4) of the gores over to the other side.

Gores extended (four on each side).

7.  Place a paper weight 1/3 down from the top of the parachute. Pull the break line until the top of the canopy reaches the paper weight. This prepares the gores for proper folding.

Canopy pulled to paper weight (tape).

8. Fold one side of gores over to the other side again. Now individually fold four gores over to the side. Make sure that the top of the gores are folded in a zig-zag pattern.

Four gores properly folded to one side.

Proper gore alignment (zig-zag folds).

9. Do this for the other four gores.  

10. Fold one side of the gores in a zig-zag pattern with a width of 10 cm.

Shaded paper shows the 10 cm width that the gores will be folded down to.

Side one, fold one.

One side of gores folded down to 10 cm.

11. Flip over the canopy and zig-zag fold the other side of gores down to 10 cm.

Canopy folded down to 10 cm width.

12. Starting at the top of the of the canopy zig-zag fold until the length of the canopy is 10 cm.

Canopy folded into 10 cm by 10 cm square.

13. Flip over and place the canopy onto the opened parachute bag.

Canopy placed on parachute bag.

14. Pull the break through the break line and place it on the canopy.

Break placed on folded canopy.

 

15. Close the parachute bag, pulling the elastic loop through each hole. 

    

    Each side of the parachute bag must be closed in the correct order. The order is left, right, bottom, top. The top flap is the flap with two layers and the left flap is the flap with the elastic loop. The suspension lines should be sticking out the bottom left corner of the bag when closed.

Closed parachute bag with elastic loop held by the parachute tool.

16. Feed the suspension lines through the loops. 

    This step must be done in a particular order. The suspension line should be pulled 1 cm through each loop. Follow the pictures below to get the correct order and use the included parachute tool to pull the loops through.

First, loop the suspension lines through elastic loop in the middle.

Suspension lines completely threaded.

The parachute bag is now folded and ready to be loaded onto the Bramor ppX.

Disclaimer: This post is only intended to supplement the parachute folding guide found in the C-Astral Bramor ppX User Manual. The parachute folding section is on pages 161-180 of the user manual.