There was a time not so long ago when the idea of using a parachute to save an aircraft and its occupants seemed outlandish. Lately, though, it seems a whole-airframe parachute system has become a basic part of a new aircraft’s design and engineering. South St. Paul, Minnesota-based Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) is widely acknowledged as the market leader, with its parachutes installed on certificated aircraft like the Cirrus along with many experimental, ultralight, and light-sport models.

So it really isn’t surprising that parachute systems from BRS are aboard four new aircraft unveiled this week at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. One of them is the new turbine-powered Lancair Evolution.

"It’s great news for us and great news for Lancair pilots," said BRS Chairman Robert L. Nelson, who attended Lancair’s announcement. "More and more people understand the value of having a BRS chute on board."

Among its other features, the new four-seat, pressurized, turboprop Lancair Evolution will mount a BRS airframe parachute system forward of the plane’s firewall. Flight tests will use the larger-capacity next-generation chute from BRS now in development.

Established in 1981, Ballistic Recovery Systems is now a publicly traded company (BRS or BRSI) and has delivered more than 27,000 parachute systems to aircraft owners around the world. To date, BRS whole-airplane parachutes are credited with saving the lives of more than 200 pilots and passengers. To learn more about the company and its products, stop at Booth 2017 or visit its website, www.BRSParachutes.com.