Just another reason to buy a Bonanza over a Cirrus, I guess. It got struck by lightning while parked on the ramp, and the CAPS rocket ignited. A better quality video should be out later.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/685fKmvRZxI[/youtube]

Uhhhh.... does that happen in the air with a lightning strike?

I handled an in-flight lightning strike claim on a Cirrus and the rocket didn't fire, but the pilot told me he was ready to pull when suddenly he popped out the other side of the cell. The prop looked like sharks teeth.

The airplane on the ground at LYH had the new electronic ignition for the chute. Most Cirrus' have the old mechanical style ignition. I have a buddy that is about to do his 10 year repack to the tune of $16K and all they offer now is the electronic ignition.

If you have a total electrical failure can the electronic chute still work or is it dead?

The thought of a lighting strike firing the chute is scary beyond belief.

The newer style CAPS activation system is hard wired to a battery. All SR2x aircraft will be retrofitted to this system as they go through their repack cycles.

I find it odd the camera guy is filming this as if he knows it's going to happen. Framed up on the plane, sitting on the ramp, dark outside, waiting for it. What are the odds? Just odd.

Looks like he used his phone to record security footage being replayed on a computer screen.

At least it makes it obvious that your plane got struck by lightning.

Wonder if it totaled it?

There are certainly many reasons for some to buy a Bo over a Cirrus, but this sure isn't one of them.

One isolated incident like this, with nobody hurt, doesn't come close to negating 72 successful pulls from altitude. Everybody walks away every time with over 1k' and under 200 KIAS.

A more realistic reason is cost, depreciation loss, or need more UL.

It's just as easy to come up with an irrelevant reason to buy a Cirrus over a Bo.

The difference is that every reason to buy a Cirrus over a Bo is irrelevant!

There are certainly many reasons for some to buy a Bo over a Cirrus, but this sure isn't one of them.

One isolated incident like this, with nobody hurt, doesn't come close to negating 72 successful pulls from altitude. Everybody walks away every time with over 1k' and under 200 KIAS.

A more realistic reason is cost, depreciation loss, or need more UL.

It's just as easy to come up with an irrelevant reason to buy a Cirrus over a Bo.

Had the opportunity to fly with an FBO owner last week that deals in a lot of cirrus sales and when I queried him on his thoughts of cirrius ownership, his comment was "expensive". He helped a client buy one who then spent almost 20K on a 'chute repack and 10K on cirrus specific pilot training and that was just to get the airplane out of the hangar . . .

My insurance went up 10% this year and I wondered if that was in response to increased cirrus payout

And expensive to repair any airframe damage.