On 6/1/2018 11:31 PM, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
On Friday, June 1, 2018 at 4:23:50 PM UTC-7, wrote:
I was not aware of Para-Phernalia's 20-year life (which seems to check out based on quick research). I don't believe it's common knowledge. If I had known about it, I would not have bought mine. At age 67, saying I won't buy another one is probably not that threatening. But I won't.

You can talk all you want about the per-year cost over 20 years, but it's still $2,000+. Knowing it's a wasting asset regardless of how well you care for it is discouraging.

Chip Bearden

I am on my third chute, would love to buy another in seventeen years, when this one times out. It is not a "wasting asset", it is a depreciating asset used as a/the safety device. I have never had a car for twenty years, a couch, a bed, a pillow, a climbing rope, boat.... Put aside $100 per year, or cut one Starbuck's trip a week for a year and you are move than covered (I assume you will invest your $100). It is really not a big burden if you plan for it. And it is your butt! I have had a few classes in material sciences. Anyone remember the acid wash thingy?

Hmmm...

Everything has a lifespan, but 'humanly repurposed mechanical stuff' (e.g.
parachutes, gliders, cars) end-of-life condition is typically far less digital
than 'organic lives' (e.g. humans).

You don't have to have been an engineering major to have had a materials
science class or two (I was/did) but it may or may not be helpful. In any
event, it's already been noted 'the acid wash thingy' had zero to do with
'normal lifespan' and became apparent well before 'the magic 20 years' had
passed. I still have my original parachute (a 1953-ish round Navy canopy in an
older Army pack [or perhaps vice-versa - it's been a long time]); last (not
the first) time it was 'used in anger' was 1975; last time repacked was ~1995
(it tested just fine, in every respect).

When was the last 1-26 built? It surely woulda been fun to've attended the
2018 World 1-26 Champeenships recently completed.

How many 1st generation glass gliders have been found structurally kaput
'merely' because of age? The first C-172 still flies, in more or less original
- as in restoration not critically necessary - condition.

I sold my first glider tow vehicle for $500 after 37 years of glider towing
use; it had cost me ~$2600 new. Perhaps had I washed it more than a few times
the first year I owned it (and never thereafter), the unibody may not have
rusted so rapidly. It was registered, running and roadworthy the day I sold it
(the $500 was for its 3rd engine...which soon powered a 1961 Mercury Comet).
The only other vehicle I've ever purchased was made in 1990 and remains a
daily driver, albeit with only 245,000 miles on it to date and only the timing
belt (2X) and brake linings (1X) having required routine replacement; I
replaced spark plugs, once, out of curiosity - it wasn't necessary, based on
fuel mileage. A fully-independent-suspensioned vehicle, based on tire wear
patterns it has never had/needed a wheel alignment, nor has it required
anything more than occasionally rotating fronts-to-rears to maximize tire life
wear rates. Dangerously, neither vehicle ever had airbags or weighed more than
2600 lbs, fueled and oiled. Both vehicles took/continue-to-take wife and I on
tens of thousands of back road dirt miles, many of them of the 'seriously
dodgy' persuasion.

More power to those folks who have more 'time limited' views on 'useful age of
stuff.' But please don't indulge in FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) as the
approved method for playing Life-Safety Police for those who have differing
views. Not only is it misguided (if arguably well-intentioned), but it's also
a dollar-expensive manner of living - if that's of any importance- and (also
arguably) likely diminishes one's 'life adventure quotient.'

Bob W.

P.S. BTW, the number of times either of the above-mentioned vehicles ever
required attention of professional mechanics (as opposed to me, strictly a
dollar-sensitive, wrench turning, 'Murican who can read repair manuals), can
likely be counted without taking off my socks...and that includes exhaust
system repairs, which is where I draw my personal line. And, yes, I find the
balance between doing it myself and paying others to do it an easy trade to
make - I've never failed to obtain immediate, non-time/aggravation-wasting,
easy satisfaction if Joe Mechanic screws up!

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