7 replies to this topic

[David]

Wehn I was in the States, I bought a parachute candle, which was cool. Basically a single shot thingie that sent a flare up which drifted down to the ground on a parachute!

(That I know of) there is only one of these available in the UK, a Cosmic one that sends out smoke on a 'chute!

But yeah, anyone used the UK version? It does look cool, although I get the impression that loads of space would be needed.

[Arthur Brown]

I know that they are used as distress flares but are they sold as fireworks in the UK?

[David]

I know that they are used as distress flares but are they sold as fireworks in the UK?

Just one, that I know of - Cosmics Parachute Smoke

[Mortartube]

Standard used to do a "Parachute light" when they made proper fireworks. It was as the name suggested. The only one I ever fired went up about 20 feet and drifted into a garden, but I did see some work properly at a 100 feet or more.

[David]

In some instances they might be classed as "erratic flight" devices, although the Cosmic one has passed testing of course.

[parachutelight]

These were always my favourite type of firework and i was most disappointed when they were discontinued.Standard used to make a single red and a double red and green which lifted to about 50 feet and burned for about 25 seconds.They also made a Sky rocket with chain of stars which consisted of four flares on a parachute that changed colour as they burned,red to white or red to green.I have one of these parachutes in my collection which is about 5 feet in length with a cloth parachute.Incidentally these type of fireworks are still used in displays,Pains use a shell which discharges a long chain of about 20 flares of various colours which burn for about a minute.Icertainly would like to see this type of firework re-introduced but i don't think it will happen.

[crystal palace fireworks]

These were always my favourite type of firework and i was most disappointed when they were discontinued.Standard used to make a single red and a double red and green which lifted to about 50 feet and burned for about 25 seconds.They also made a Sky rocket with chain of stars which consisted of four flares on a parachute that changed colour as they burned,red to white or red to green.I have one of these parachutes in my collection which is about 5 feet in length with a cloth parachute.Incidentally these type of fireworks are still used in displays,Pains use a shell which discharges a long chain of about 20 flares of various colours which burn for about a minute.Icertainly would like to see this type of firework re-introduced but i don't think it will happen.

Hi Parachutelight

I too am a big fan of these type of fireworks!

Is there any chance you could show some pictures (from a few angles) of the 5 foot parachute firework?

[David]

I fired the Cosmic 19 shotter- great fun, but I think it's an effect best suited to less shots- even singles (although of course legal restrictions and the like may apply.)

I fired it in a bit of a breeze in a massive open space (not uncommon for the uk, of course) and the drift on the parachutes was over 100m!

Retrieved parachutes can potentially be used again (just for fun, not pyro). Tie a GI Joe to one and throw it as high as you can....