It's All About The Flying.  World Record Hang Gliders Since 1973.
Current Location: Home > Parachutes > LARA

Parachutes
Parachute Overview

PDA

Sections

Specifications
Features
Options
Pilot
  Comment

Any Questions?
LARA main image
 
FreeFlight LARA Reserve Parachute

Wills Wing now offers the new LARA (Low Aspect Ratio Annular) Emergency reserve parachute for hang glider and paraglider pilots. The LARA is a higher performance alternative to conventional Conical and PDA (Pulled Down Apex) configurations. The LARA’s aerodynamically efficient shape produces a higher drag coefficient and corresponding lower descent rate during an emergency deployment. It also offers the best value (price/performance) available today.

The LARA 250 was drop tested eight times by the United States military. Data was gathered at the rate of five samples per second utilizing a SOMAT data logger with on-board altimeter instrumentation. The average descent rate (corrected to sea level) with a 200 pound payload was only 17.5 feet per second! The US military uses 24 feet per second as a maximum allowable descent rate for emergency reserve parachutes. This low descent rate is comparable to the 24 gore PDA being manufactured by Free Flight Enterprises for tandem use.

Free Flight has drop tested all LARA models, with payloads 25% above nominal weight, at 90 knots. No canopies were damaged. These tests also verified the exceptional descent rate performance. (Note: Descent rates shown in the table below are based on average descent rates obtained in drop tests from airplanes conducted by Free Flight Enterprises. There is characteristically a significant amount of scatter in parachute drop test data).

There are no structural differences between the HG and PG canopies. The PG canopy can be converted for hang gliding applications by adding a bridle extension, however we strongly recommend a Paraswivel which is integral on the HG configuration. Without a Paraswivel, a spinning broken hang glider can close the canopy by twisting the bridle and shroud lines.

The LARA is available in three sizes (175, 250, 400) and four configurations.
The LARA Gold utilizes a Kevlar bridle and Spectra lines to reduce weight and pack volume. The “Gold” designation was chosen because the use of these materials increases the cost rather significantly.
The standard LARA has a Type 18 Nylon bridle and conventional lines.
The HG configuration includes a 24 foot bridle and integral Paraswivel.
The PG configuration includes a 4 foot bridle.

The LARA was designed by Vertigo Inc., and is fabricated 100% in America by Free-Flight Inc. The combination of Wills Wing, Free-Flight and Vertigo assure the highest standard of quality available.

Free Flight Enterprises LARA/PDA Parachute Manual -2012

Tech Bulletin #TB20060320 - Free Flight Parachute Packing Inspection (PDF file)

Paraswivel Advisory, May 2000 (PDF file)
 
Pilot Comment:
Bill Soderquist - Aerobatic Pilot and past King Mountain Champion
4/15/2011

Bill Soderquist writes regarding his parachute deployment of June 5, 2010:

Here are the photos taken during this sequence of the Lara Gold 250 opening.

To the folk at FREE FLIGHT thank you for saving my life. This flight started as a simple training exercise for new aerobatic judges. I started my performance. 3 spins left into 3 spins right into a head on to the judges loop followed by an unplanned parachute deployment. I had stressed to the new aero pilots to clear their chute handle after launch and to make the move with their hand to familiarize themselves. I stress they were pushing themselves and their equipment beyond the certified limits and if needed, they had to know where the handle was. I did my normal look, clear, and reach to make sure I knew where the chute was as I fly several different harness. Then put it out of my mind as I cleared the box, started smoke and concentrated on the routine ahead. The routine went as planned through the first two spin maneuvers then I set up for my head on for the judges. As I let the bar out the left sid... (more)


Back to top
 
Specifications:

Imperial Units:          Change to Metric Units
Specification  LARA 175 Gold HG   LARA 175 HG   LARA 250 Gold HG   LARA 250 HG   LARA 400 Gold HG   LARA 175 Gold PG   LARA 175 PG   LARA 250 Gold PG   LARA 250 PG   LARA 400 Gold PG 
System Weight (lbs) 4.7 6.3 4.9 6.8 7.8 3.9 5.2 4.1 5.7 6.8
Pilot Weight (Max.) (lbs) 175 175 250 250 450 175 175 250 250 450
Descent Rate (f/s) 18.5
Comparable PDA Pack 18 20 20 22 24 18 20 20 22 24
Comparable PDA Desc. 22 22 24 24 28 22 22 24 24 28
Bridle Material Kevlar Type 18 Nylon Kevlar Type 18 Nylon Kevlar Kevlar Type 18 Nylon Kevlar Type 18 Nylon Kevlar
Bridle Length (ft) 24 24 24 24 24 4 4 4 4 4
Shroud Lines Spectra Conv. Spectra Conv. Spectra Spectra Conv. Spectra Conv. Spectra
Paraswivel Integral Integral Integral Integral Integral Optional Optional Optional Optional Optional
Sugg. Retail $930.00 $672.00 $969.00 $697.00 $1425.00 $777.00 $612.00 $816.00 $635.00 $1262.00

Key to Specifications

Note: Retail prices listed are Wills Wing's suggested retail prices not including packaging for shipment from the factory, freight costs to the destination, import and local taxes, and dealer preparation and delivery charges. For safety reasons, any products shown that require any particular expertise to install or use safely must be purchased through, and personally delivered to the end user by an authorized Wills Wing Dealer. Retail prices listed for gliders are applicable to gliders selected for purchase from the web site inventory glider list. For any glider not selected from the inventory list, at a minimum, a charge of $150 for customer selection of colors will apply, (except for the T2C where customer color choice is included in the price), in addition to any applicable upgrade charges for extra cost options selected. Inventory gliders are created in the process of balancing sail cloth inventory and selling used demo gliders or gliders resulting from cancelled orders. Inventory gliders may not always be available in all models and sizes.

Note: Wills Wing authorized dealers are independent business entities, are not employees or agents of Wills Wing, do not directly represent Wills Wing, and are not authorized to enter into contracts, agreements, or commitments on behalf of Wills Wing. Although Wills Wing safety policies require that certain items be purchased from an authorized Wills Wing dealer, those policies do not require that an order be placed with any specific Wills Wing dealer, and any such order that is placed with a Wills Wing dealer is considered by Wills Wing to be an agreement entirely between the dealer and the customer. Although Wills Wing policies state certain expectations of authorized dealers, Wills Wing does not evaluate dealers with respect to either their ability to meet or the degree to which they customarily meet such expectations. Customers are encouraged to conduct all appropriate due diligence in evaluating any authorized Wills Wing dealer with whom they plan to do business.


Back to top
Features:
LARA Gold utilizes a Kevlar bridle and Spectra lines
Durable deployment bag included
Designed by Vertigo Inc
Fabricated 100% in America by Free-Flight Inc.
Drop tested multiple times by the United States military
Aerodynamically efficient shape produces a higher drag coefficient
Packing Instructions Included
Pararswivel Included on all Hang Gliding Reserves

Back to top
 
  Top | Home | Dealers | News | Blogs | Support | Pricelist | Calendar | Inventory | Contact | Login

Copyright © 1996-2010 Wills Wing Inc.
Wills Wing Inc • 500 West Blueridge Ave • Orange, CA • 92865