A selection is made between single stage and multistage parachute deployment for a vehicle based at least in part on vehicle state information. In the event multistage parachute deployment is selected, a drogue parachute is deployed during a first deployment stage and afterwards, a main parachute is deployed during a second deployment stage. In the event single stage parachute deployment is selected, at least the main parachute is deployed in a single stage where in the event the drogue parachute is deployed during the single stage, the drogue and main parachute are deployed simultaneously.

A selection is made between single stage and multistage parachute deployment for a vehicle based at least in part on vehicle state information. In the event multistage parachute deployment is selected, a drogue parachute is deployed during a first deployment stage and afterwards, a main parachute is deployed during a second deployment stage. In the event single stage parachute deployment is selected, at least the main parachute is deployed in a single stage where in the event the drogue parachute is deployed during the single stage, the drogue and main parachute are deployed simultaneously.

A parachute inlet control system is configured to provide an improved inflation profile for solo and/or clustered parachutes. An inlet parachute is coupled to a main parachute via a plurality of inlet control suspension lines and/or reefing rings. The inlet control suspension lines may be passed through the reefing rings and coupled to an anchor point below the main parachute. The inlet parachute is located in the inlet area of the main parachute, and causes the inlet of the main parachute to rapidly form a desirable shape. The inlet parachute and inlet control suspension lines function as a reefing system to prevent full inflation of the main parachute until a reefing cutter has functioned. In this manner, parachute failures, such as those due to leading and/or lagging parachutes in a parachute cluster, may be reduced or eliminated.

A device for delaying the opening of a parachute, in particular a personal parachute or a cargo parachute, of a person jumping exiting an aircraft or of a cargo dropped from an aircraft, characterized by a delaying means designed to provide a connection between a drogue parachute connectable with a detachable connection to the aircraft and a parachute bridal line, said delaying means being movable from a delaying position in which no deployment of the parachute takes place, to a deployment position in which the parachute is deployed. A delay of the opening of the parachute, i.e. the time required for the movement from the delaying position to the deployment position, can be between 0.5 seconds and 2 seconds by suitable design of the delaying means. Advantageously, the deployment of the parachute is delayed and occurs outside a wake turbulence of the aircraft.

A multi-modal aircraft recovery system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a first aircraft recovery parachute having a first set of physical attributes optimized for a first set of conditions and a second aircraft recovery parachute having a second set of physical attributes optimized for a second set of conditions different from the first.

A multi-modal aircraft recovery system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a first aircraft recovery parachute having a first set of physical attributes optimized for a first set of conditions and a second aircraft recovery parachute having a second set of physical attributes optimized for a second set of conditions different from the first.

A trap system is presented for deployment of a reserve parachute. The trap system includes a trap line with a first end coupled to a main parachute and a trap attached to a surface of the container. The trap includes an outer perimeter to removably hold the trap line and an interior to removably hold the reserve bridle. A kit is also presented for converting a parachute container into an improved parachute container to deploy a reserve parachute. The kit includes an attachment to be secured to a surface of the parachute container. The attachment includes a trap line with a first end configured to be coupled to the first end of the RSL lanyard, and a trap secured to a region of the attachment, with an outer perimeter to removably hold a second end of the trap line and an interior to removably hold the reserve bridle.

A trap system is presented for deployment of a reserve parachute. The trap system includes a trap line with a first end coupled to a main parachute and a trap attached to a surface of the container. The trap includes an outer perimeter to removably hold the trap line and an interior to removably hold the reserve bridle. A kit is also presented for converting a parachute container into an improved parachute container to deploy a reserve parachute. The kit includes an attachment to be secured to a surface of the parachute container. The attachment includes a trap line with a first end configured to be coupled to the first end of the RSL lanyard, and a trap secured to a region of the attachment, with an outer perimeter to removably hold a second end of the trap line and an interior to removably hold the reserve bridle.

A trap system is presented for deployment of a reserve parachute. The trap system includes a trap line with a first end coupled to a main parachute and a trap attached to a surface of the container. The trap includes an outer perimeter to removably hold the trap line and an interior to removably hold the reserve bridle. A kit is also presented for converting a parachute container into an improved parachute container to deploy a reserve parachute. The kit includes an attachment to be secured to a surface of the parachute container. The attachment includes a trap line with a first end configured to be coupled to the first end of the RSL lanyard, and a trap secured to a region of the attachment, with an outer perimeter to removably hold a second end of the trap line and an interior to removably hold the reserve bridle.

A trap system is presented for deployment of a reserve parachute. The trap system includes a trap line with a first end coupled to a main parachute and a trap attached to a surface of the container. The trap includes an outer perimeter to removably hold the trap line and an interior to removably hold the reserve bridle. A kit is also presented for converting a parachute container into an improved parachute container to deploy a reserve parachute. The kit includes an attachment to be secured to a surface of the parachute container. The attachment includes a trap line with a first end configured to be coupled to the first end of the RSL lanyard, and a trap secured to a region of the attachment, with an outer perimeter to removably hold a second end of the trap line and an interior to removably hold the reserve bridle.