Our BRS Parachute Installation

     The BRS (Ballistic Recovery System) corporation has very generously donated a recovery pack, or rocket deployed, airframe mounted, parachute for use in the CH-701.  These are a few photos showing the installation of our unit. 

	BRS provided a sheet of frangible (brittle or breakable) plastic.  We scored the sheet to insure that it would break predictably and allow egress of both the rocket and the parachute, and cut it to size and shape.  We then formed a 'L' channel out of 6061t6 aluminum and fluted one edge to create the curve.  We clamped, drilled, and clecoed the two together and drilled the rest of the holes.  After deburring both parts carefully, they were ready to install.
Cutting into the skin of the aircraft was a bit nerve-wracking but after measuring several times we began.  We placed the frame in place and transferred the hole positions.  This is a matter of drilling one hole, inserting a cleco, drilling another, another cleco, and a third.  When the frame was in place and supported, the remaining holes were drilled.  The assembly was then taken down, all holes were inspected and deburred, and the frame was painted.
	A bead of RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanizing) Silicone was applied to the top of the plastic where it contacted the top skin of the aircraft.  It should provide a waterproof seal that will both protect the rocket and parachute assembly and also the aircraft, it's contents, and occupants from rain intrusion.
	Without an engine installed the aircraft is tail heavy.  We decided not to fight gravity while installing the BRS unit.
	While a tight fit, we had a couple of millimeters to spare.
This photo shows the BRS unit mounted on the back wall of the baggage compartment.  The black cylinder will contain the rocket that deploys the parachute.  The handle with the cloth 'Remove Before Flight' tag and safety pin at the end of the cable will mount directly behind the pilots' heads.
	This photo shows the location of the BRS unit.  It is mounted aft as far as practicable.  With a Volkswagon engine, which is heavier than the Rotax units the aircraft was designed around, we need to add any additional weight in the rear of the aircraft.  The battery will probably be far back in the tail.