MARS Lite vs. MARS Ballistic. Whats the difference?

Lite Aerodynamic Deployment vs. Ballistic Deployment - What’s Right for Me?

At MARS, we have developed (2) parachute deployments systems that are designed to fit your needs, along with the needs & requirements of the aircraft these systems will be installed upon.

To put it plainly, no two aircraft are the same, and each and every aircraft will be best suited based upon the flight envelope, aircraft layout, and most of all, your budget.

MARS “Lite” Systems:

- Inspire Lite 58
- MARS P3 Lite
- MARS P2 Lite

Benefits:

- Light Weight
- Small Footprint
- Low Cost

Compromises:

- Greater Altitude Required for Optimal Deployment

With our lineup of “Lite” systems, these systems were designed with a keen focus upon light overall weight, low cost implementation, and a small footprint that will allow the most optimal fit with aircraft that have minimal area for a parachute recovery system.

Simplistic in design, when the servo mechanism releases the parachute, the parachute system utilizes aerodynamic flow during the descent to deploy the parachute canopy in full. With this system, more altitude is required for full deployment, but once deployed, this system is no different in function than our lineup of ballistic parachute systems.

When compared with our line of ballistic parachute systems that utilize high energy spring deployment, the tradeoff with the “Lite” systems is a requirement of greater altitude for proper deployment. Further, some aircraft will require the usage of (2) Lite parachute systems for optimal levels of safety, such as the MARS P2 Lite & MARS P3 Lite systems.

Designed around the same servo release mechanism that all MARS parachute recovery systems utilize, the Lite systems provide the end user another choice to fit the needs of the aircraft, allowing you to choose the most optimal system that best suits the aircraft and flight envelope requirements.

MARS Ballistic Systems:

- MARS MINI V2
- MARS 58 V2
- MARS 120 V2

Benefits:

- Rapid Parachute Deployment
- Less Altitude Required for Optimal Deployment

Compromises:

- Increase In Weight
- Larger Overall Footprint
- Higher Costs

With our lineup of ballistic parachute systems, these systems were designed for the greatest level of aggressive parachute recovery, allowing the very best chance for the safe & effective recovery of your aircraft in the event of an in flight failure.

Deployed by a high energy compression spring, the MARS ballistic parachute systems rapidly eject the parachute canopy, allowing a quick and effective form of deployment. These systems are optimal for aircraft operating in lower altitude environments that will depend upon the rapid deployment for the best chance of safe aircraft recovery.

Compared to the “Lite” systems we offer, the tradeoffs equate in weight, size, and overall costs. Cost aside, some aircraft simply do not have the real estate to house larger ballistic systems, and even though light in overall weight, aircraft that have critical all up weight limits may not tolerate larger ballistic parachute systems.

Employing rapid servo deployment via a high energy compression spring, these ballistic system provide excellent prop clearance when deployed, allowing the parachute system to rapidly unfurl in the smallest frame of time. This two part synergistic deployment is the very best MARS has developed, and is recommended for any aircraft system that will allow.

So, In the End, What Do I Choose?

Choose what fits you and your aircraft best based upon your budget, aircraft layout and most importantly, what you require when it comes to the safety needs of your aircraft.

If your aircraft can fit the ballistic option, and your budget allows this option, we highly recommend the ballistic option of parachute deployment, as these systems provide the ultimate in safe parachute recovery.

However, if your budget doesn’t allow ballistic options, or your aircraft is limited in area or overall weight, the “Lite” systems were specifically designed for your needs in mind, allowing parachute recovery that perfectly fits your needs.

These Lite systems work incredibly well, and even though they favor aerodynamic deployment versus ballistic high energy spring deployment, the aerodynamic pull will safely & effectively deploy the parachute system as required with the proper level of altitude for complete deployment.