A ballistic parachute, ballistic reserve parachute, or emergency ballistic reserve parachute is a parachute

Parachute

A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag, or in the case of ram-air parachutes, aerodynamic lift. Parachutes are usually made out of light, strong cloth, originally silk, now most commonly nylon...

 ejected from the casing via a small explosion*, much like that used in an ejection seat. *Also there are slug fired systems, (pre 1990) mortar fired systems, (pre 1994), & A.I.R. rocket (compressed gas) systems. The advantage of the ballistic parachute over a conventional parachute is that it ejects the parachute canopy causing it to open rapidly, this makes it ideal for attaching to small aircraft

Aircraft

An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...

, hang-gliders and microlights where an emergency situation may occur in close proximity to the ground. In such a situation a conventional parachute would not open quickly enough.

See Also

• Ballistic Recovery Systems
  Ballistic Recovery Systems
  Ballistic Recovery Systems is a manufacturer of aircraft ballistic parachutes .The company was formed in 1980 by Boris Popov after he survived a fall in a partly collapsed hang glider in 1975...
  
  - manufacturer of ballistic parachute for use in light aircraft