Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:
.
"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...

And I just discovered my Strong has them, too, so it's apparently not an
issue, at least the way I store and use my parachute. If it was, I think I
riggers packing it over it's 26 year life would've mentioned a problem if
they'd seen one.



I assume, then, that you have never actually seen this 'chute that you have
been wearing for how many years?

Shouldn't you at least pop it once before you get it re-packed to see for
yourself and get familier with what you own, what it takes to "pull the
ripcord", what the risers look like, what you would likely tug on to steer
it, etc.???

All good ideas, and I did pull the ripcord on it once years ago. It was
so easy, that I haven't bothered to do it again. I do re-read the manual
once a year (or similar article), so I think I'll be able to tell the
steering rings from whatever other stuff is within reach. I also sit in
the cockpit now and then, visualizing exiting the glider, operating the
jettison levers and seat belt release, looking for the ripcord, tugging
it, and so on.

Actually seeing the parachute innards probably wouldn't do me any good,
since I don't have any training in evaluating their condition.


Worried about rubberbands? See for yourself what shape they are in after
being stored.

I've just come from talking with the rigger that's done my parachute for
several years. He says he replaces them routinely on the parachutes he
repacks if they don't look like the new ones, but not necessarily every
time.

I did test the rubber bands that come wrapped around our newspaper.
Fifteen minutes at 275 deg F didn't seem to affect them at all, so it's
more than temperature that causes them to degrade (I'm guessing they
just get old). They didn't become brittle at 0 deg F, either, so I've
stopped worrying about them.

He also said my canopy was in excellent condition, that the harness was
very good, but if I wanted to get a new parachute, he'd could help with
that, too.

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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA