want to trade.

oh no Steve I saw it first ;)

On Tuesday, July 22, 2014 12:08:23 PM UTC-5, Glidergeek wrote:
oh no Steve I saw it first ;)

But I asked first. :-)

On Tuesday, July 22, 2014 11:15:33 AM UTC-4, Walt Connelly wrote:
I just spoke with Strong regarding the 20 year thing. NOT SO. IF it
passes the riggers general inspection it will be re-rigged indefinitely.
Individual riggers may be unwilling to do a repack on an older chute
but there is no regulation regarding this limit.
Walt
--
Walt Connelly

A good idea is to send your parachute back to Strong every so often
(a mentor who'd done a lot of parachute jumping suggested 5 years).
Come to think of it, mine's about due for that.

Matt

On Tuesday, July 22, 2014 10:43:36 AM UTC-5, Quietpilot wrote:
It is my 1st parachute and my 1st glider too.

My apologies for missing this earlier, Quietpilot. Congratulations on your first plane! May it serve you well for as long as you like!

As to the chute, as many others have mentioned, Strong does not put a calendar life on their chutes. I would encourage you to look around your local area and see if there are other riggers that base the airworthiness of a product on its condition, not its age. And also, spend some time sitting in the glider with the chute on, even if you can't get it re-packed by that rigger. It may be that the ergonomics just don't work out and you end up wanting to get a different chute. But if it is comfortable, by all means look around for another rigger. You may trade off a chute that is comfortable for one that is not, and that will not make the experience a pleasant one.

Happy flying in your new sailplane!

Steve

On Tuesday, July 22, 2014 10:08:23 AM UTC-7, Glidergeek wrote:
oh no Steve I saw it first ;)

I also have a Strong 303, also about 20 years old, also in near perfect shape, also cannot get it repacked locally. If someone wants it for $300, shoot me an email.

I bought a new 303 so this one is just sitting here.

Additional advantages to sending it to Strong every few years:

1) They comply with any service bulletins that are due.
2) It is the most comfortable repack that I get. The others are just so-so.

Lane

On Tuesday, July 22, 2014 6:28:22 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Additional advantages to sending it to Strong every few years: 1) They comply with any service bulletins that are due. 2) It is the most comfortable repack that I get. The others are just so-so. Lane

Agree with that, Lane. Most riggers are also jumpers. And they don't spend hours sitting on the rigs they pack, so they may do things a little differently than the manufacturer would. The end result is just as good and reliable an openning when needed, but at reduced comfort when sitting.

Steve

Doing a little internet research, I found the following:

"The formal determination of "Time / Life" or service life of a non-military personnel parachute is still open ended and non specific. Someone must take the initiative and make a judgment
call to ground it. By comparison: "Personnel (military) parachutes have a determined service life (a maximum shelf life) without use of 16.5 years, and every personnel parachute is stamped with a manufacturing date that starts its life-cycle clock. A personnel parachute is also stamped with the date that it is first placed in service (PIS). From that point on, a parachute's service life cannot exceed 12 years. The longer the unit sits on the shelf the less service life it has once placed in service."
The Parachute Industry Association (PIA) has visited this issue without conclusion to date. Until the PIA specifies or recommends otherwise, it is the opinion of the current management at National Parachute that the maximum service life is 20 years from date of manufacture.
Emergency Parachute Manual P/N 81101-2P (Revised Dec. 2008)- 14 -"

And,:

"1.4 SERVICE LIFE
Independent testing of aged nylon materials has proven that its strength degrades over time, therefore, Para-Phernalia, Inc. and Free Flight Enterprises have established a 20-year service life from the date of component manufacture for the Softie Pilot Emergency System and the Preserve line of emergency parachutes.
1.5 Rigger Qualifications
In order to pack and maintain this parachute system, the FAA Senior or Master Rigger - or foreign equivalent - must possess an appropriate rating endorsement to their certificate. All SOFTIE models require a Back rating except the Seat model which requires a Seat rating endorsement. Because the Back models are also certified compatible with ramair parachutes when assembled with the Para-Phernalia ramair parachute deployment bag, the Rigger should be appropriately trained in the assembly and packing of these canopies prior to certifying the Softie for emergency use.
FAR 65.129 - No certificated parachute rigger may -
(e) Pack, maintain, or alter a parachute in any manner that deviates from the procedures approved by an FAA administrator OR the
manufacturer of the parachute; or
(f) Exercise the privileges of his certificate and type rating unless he understands the current manufacturer's instructions for the operation involved.
NOTE:
ANYONE who circumvents Para-Phernalia, Inc., assembly and packing instructions, or the packing instructions of the manufacturer of any of the component parts assembled with the Softie harness and container system, is in violation of FAR Part 65.129 and is therefore performing an illegal procedure.
10 Rev. 2.0 8/09"