On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 16:19:55 -0800, Eric Greenwell
wrote:

Duster wrote:
I'm planning on purchasing a new or used parachute to replace mine that
does not fit the contours of my ship. My question pertains to the
accepted longevity of emergency parachutes which I've often heard is
about 20 years. Because mine is 27 years old, I was just about to toss
my Security 250 in the dump. However, I recently reread an article by
John Good on parachutes published in Soaring (March 2003) which quotes
Ted Strong (of Strong Parachutes) and a colleague as saying, "...there
is no need to impose a limited service life on an emergency parachute."
What's the consensus by others in the sport? Should I try to sell it
or trash it?

I suggest you contact Security for their recommendation, since that is
what a likely buyer will do and go by. At one time, there were some AD's
on Security chutes, also a factor in your choice.


You would have a hard time contacting Security. They no longer do
business in the United States.

I went through this same situation this past summer when I sold a
Security 350. What my master rigger said, was long as it passes
inspection it is OK to use. He said the 20 year service life was
promoted by the manufactures, mostly to sell new chutes. If it has
been well maintained there is no reason it is not still good. I know
of one rigger who will still pack the old silk army chutes.

Some of the Security chutes had bad "vent" material. The material was
treated with a fire retardant for use as a mosquito netting, then used
in parachutes by mistake. When your chute is repacked the fabric is
to be tested with an "acid" that will change color if the netting has
been treated with the fire retardant and it has leeched into the
adjacent fabric. At this point most all the chutes that have the bad
material have been removed from service. Most likely, I am told, if
it passes the acid test it will always pass the acid test. But not
always. I know of a chute purchased by a friend that passed the acid
test in the summer, but the following spring it failed.