Softie Parachute for Schleicher gliders with a seat back cutout

[Craig Reinholt]

Last year I bought a new Softie parachute for my ASH 31. Not researching things through properly, I briefly read the Softie website (ok, I’m a dipstick for not drilling down in the "not so" fine print) and ordered the 240 MINI Softie model. Being a guy that is moderately “prosperous�, but can still bench press 225 lbs, it appeared to be the correct item. After flying my 31 a few times with the new rig, it was painfully obvious that the dimensions of the container didn’t fit the seat back cutout. The rig was too tall and too wide. The forced rounding of my shoulders and arching of my back caused severe lower back pain. I bought an inflatable bladder for lumbar support.
I complained to my master rigger / dealer about the issues during my recent repack. Ted mentioned that Softie can build custom sized containers (many times at no additional cost - call Para-Phernalia for details). We contacted Para-Phernalia with the seat back cutout dimensions and they recommended the MICRO Softie (I should have done this before ordering!). At first glance, this model is for a small pilot under 180 lbs. Properly reading the MICRO Softie page shows they can make it with the 240 lb parachute.
After some discussion and since my rig was fairly new, Para-Phernalia said they would construct a new MICRO container and move my parachute and drogue chute over to it. I went to the factory and they were wonderful. They gave me a credit on the old container (which they will sell to a drop zone). The overall net cost was very reasonable (YMMV). The customer service was absolutely fantastic and custom colors (Seahawks, Patriots, Dodger, Ranger fan?) are available.
I’ve now flown many flights with the new MICRO rig and it fits the ASH 31 (26) seat back cutout brilliantly. No additional back pain. The MICRO is a bit thicker than the MINI which works for me.
Others have tried the MICRO on in a ASG 29. One pilot thought the MICRO was superb and much better fit than his MINI Softie. Another pilot thought it was OK compared to his MINI Softie and might be better in the 32.
Bottom line, before you order a new parachute, contact Para-Phernalia directly with the dimensions of the seat you will be using it in. You will be VERY happy with the results.
Craig

[GliderCZ]

On Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 9:27:48 AM UTC-7, Craig Reinholt wrote:

> After some discussion and since my rig was fairly new, Para-Phernalia said they would construct a new MICRO container and move my parachute and drogue chute over to it. I went to the factory and they were wonderful. They gave me a credit on the old container (which they will sell to a drop zone). The overall net cost was very reasonable (YMMV). The customer service was absolutely fantastic and custom colors (Seahawks, Patriots, Dodger, Ranger fan?) are available.

I generally don't do "endorsements," but I can vouch for Para-Phernalia's responsive customer service. They are a top-flight provider. They recently built a container and harness for me when my rigger "downed" my old one. Quick turnaround and extra care to ensure my satisfaction...

[[email protected]]

For sure, Para-Phernalia are very strong supporters of soaring. Jim (head parachute builder and accomplished hang glider pilot) has been very helpful over the years. Holly the office manager is great, and Dan the owner has been a friend to soaring pilots for many years.

RC

[Tango Eight]

On Monday, June 10, 2019 at 3:30:59 AM UTC-4, wrote:
> For sure, Para-Phernalia are very strong supporters of soaring. Jim (head parachute builder and accomplished hang glider pilot) has been very helpful over the years. Holly the office manager is great, and Dan the owner has been a friend to soaring pilots for many years.
>
> RC

I wish someone would do a new ad for them (Soaring mag.). The guy in their ad is riding the bomb all wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcW_Ygs6hm0

T8

[[email protected]]

I like the Softie line of chutes and fly with one now. And I agree the folks at Para-Phernalia are great to deal with.

But--the manufacturer is one of the few (only?) in the U.S. to set a 20-year life on their products (see below). It can be challenging to get any chute that's more than 20 years old packed--even when it's in superb condition--thanks to the efforts of Allen Silver. Do a search on this newsgroup for (much) more info. But I suspect it will be even more difficult to get a rigger to pack a 20+ year Softie. I wish I'd known this before I bought mine.

"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."

Chip Bearden

[John Foster]

On Monday, June 10, 2019 at 4:36:32 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> I like the Softie line of chutes and fly with one now. And I agree the folks at Para-Phernalia are great to deal with.
>
> But--the manufacturer is one of the few (only?) in the U.S. to set a 20-year life on their products (see below). It can be challenging to get any chute that's more than 20 years old packed--even when it's in superb condition--thanks to the efforts of Allen Silver. Do a search on this newsgroup for (much) more info. But I suspect it will be even more difficult to get a rigger to pack a 20+ year Softie. I wish I'd known this before I bought mine.
>
> "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."
>
> Chip Bearden

They really are comfortable parachutes to wear. And the riggers seem to like them when repacking them. With that in mind, when shopping for a used parachute, I use the rule of thumb "$100 per year left of "useful life" (20y - #yrs old the parachute is). Given that, I was able to purchase a used Softie long that was 4 years old, for $1600. I thought that was a fair price.

[Charles Longley]

It’s pretty much the same with seat belts. Do yourselves a favor and get new seat belts after 20 years no matter the condition of the “tags�.

[[email protected]]

> I wish someone would do a new ad for them (Soaring mag.). The guy in their ad is riding the bomb all wrong.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcW_Ygs6hm0
>
> T8

Dr. Strangelove is a great movie, but at the height of the Cold War, I am sure Director Stanley Kubrick was not willing to show the approved USAF method of riding The Bomb, lest the Soviets glean Top Secret knowledge of proper implementation. Slim Pickens (Major Kong) rode The Bomb backwards as a form of disinformation. ;-)

[Dan Marotta]

My Pioneer Thin Pack was 42 years old before someone refused to
inspect/repack it.Â* His complaint was about some minor fraying on the
crotch straps.Â* They would probably have only sustained a 20,000 pound
shock before stretching a bit...Â* My previous rigger from Colorado was
always impressed with its condition and he did puncture and rip tests.Â*
I was always present when he inspected and repacked it.

I now have a new Aviator P-124 emergency parachute
<https://rigginginnovations.com/skydiving-containers/aviator-emergency-parachute>
and am very happy with it.

On 6/10/2019 4:36 PM, wrote:
> I like the Softie line of chutes and fly with one now. And I agree the folks at Para-Phernalia are great to deal with.
>
> But--the manufacturer is one of the few (only?) in the U.S. to set a 20-year life on their products (see below). It can be challenging to get any chute that's more than 20 years old packed--even when it's in superb condition--thanks to the efforts of Allen Silver. Do a search on this newsgroup for (much) more info. But I suspect it will be even more difficult to get a rigger to pack a 20+ year Softie. I wish I'd known this before I bought mine.
>
> "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."
>
> Chip Bearden

--
Dan, 5J

[Dan Marotta]

Slim Pickens (Major Kong) rode The Bomb backwards as a form of disinformation. ;-)


That and he didn't want to experience the ground rush.

On 6/11/2019 8:01 AM, wrote:
>> I wish someone would do a new ad for them (Soaring mag.). The guy in their ad is riding the bomb all wrong.
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcW_Ygs6hm0
>>
>> T8
> Dr. Strangelove is a great movie, but at the height of the Cold War, I am sure Director Stanley Kubrick was not willing to show the approved USAF method of riding The Bomb, lest the Soviets glean Top Secret knowledge of proper implementation. Slim Pickens (Major Kong) rode The Bomb backwards as a form of disinformation. ;-)

--
Dan, 5J

[JS[_5_]]

On Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 7:53:40 AM UTC-7, Dan Marotta wrote:
> My Pioneer Thin Pack was 42 years old before someone refused to
> inspect/repack it.Â* His complaint was about some minor fraying on
> the crotch straps.Â* They would probably have only sustained a 20,000
> pound shock before stretching a bit...Â* My previous rigger from
> Colorado was always impressed with its condition and he did puncture
> and rip tests.Â* I was always present when he inspected and repacked
> it.
>
>
>
> I now have a new Aviator
> P-124 emergency parachute and am very happy with it.
>
>
>
>
> On 6/10/2019 4:36 PM,
> wrote:
>
>
>
> I like the Softie line of chutes and fly with one now. And I agree the folks at Para-Phernalia are great to deal with.
>
> But--the manufacturer is one of the few (only?) in the U.S. to set a 20-year life on their products (see below). It can be challenging to get any chute that's more than 20 years old packed--even when it's in superb condition--thanks to the efforts of Allen Silver. Do a search on this newsgroup for (much) more info. But I suspect it will be even more difficult to get a rigger to pack a 20+ year Softie. I wish I'd known this before I bought mine.
>
> "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."
>
> Chip Bearden
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Dan, 5J

Para-Phernalia has a short list of approved square chutes.
The Aviator P-124 is on the list of chutes to consider when my Mini Softie with PD235 canopy is replaced. From experience the Mini Softie works in LS6, ASW27, ASG29, but was too large for Nimbus 3 (Dan M has my old National from that) and is a bit large for the Duo rear seat, a bad fit in the front seat.
Having jumped rounds and squares I will never buy another round chute.
But that P-124 photo in the link is hilarious! A pilot appearing to be getting in an Extra(?), with his chute leg straps off.
Jim

[WB]

On Monday, June 10, 2019 at 5:36:32 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> I like the Softie line of chutes and fly with one now. And I agree the folks at Para-Phernalia are great to deal with.
>
> But--the manufacturer is one of the few (only?) in the U.S. to set a 20-year life on their products (see below). It can be challenging to get any chute that's more than 20 years old packed--even when it's in superb condition--thanks to the efforts of Allen Silver. Do a search on this newsgroup for (much) more info. But I suspect it will be even more difficult to get a rigger to pack a 20+ year Softie. I wish I'd known this before I bought mine.
>
> "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."
>
> Chip Bearden

Been flying with a Strong 305 for around 28 years. Got over 3000 hours wearing that chute in various gliders. Comfortable and I like the harness setup.. Best of all, Strong stands behind their product and doesn't try to churn sales by issuing an arbitrary "life limit". I send my chute to Strong every year for inspection and repack. They are fast and friendly with getting it done and back to me. If I had to buy another chute, I would definitely look at what's out there with respect to chute tech, comfort, and weight. However, it would take a pretty phenomenal improvement over my 305 to make me consider some manufacturer other than Strong.

[Dan Marotta]

My wife uses the National 'chute.

On 6/11/2019 9:06 AM, JS wrote:
> Para-Phernalia has a short list of approved square chutes.
> The Aviator P-124 is on the list of chutes to consider when my Mini Softie with PD235 canopy is replaced. From experience the Mini Softie works in LS6, ASW27, ASG29, but was too large for Nimbus 3 (Dan M has my old National from that) and is a bit large for the Duo rear seat, a bad fit in the front seat.
> Having jumped rounds and squares I will never buy another round chute.
> But that P-124 photo in the link is hilarious! A pilot appearing to be getting in an Extra(?), with his chute leg straps off.
> Jim

--
Dan, 5J

[[email protected]]

+1 on Strong.

A 20 yr old Strong 305 chute came with my glider. It looked filthy and smelled worse. I called Strong to see if they could sell me a new container. Of course they could but suggested I send it to them for a laundering instead. I did, and boy was I glad. They inspected it, laundered it, repacked it, and sent it back to me in just a few days. It now looks and smells brand new. On top of that they said it was in beautiful condition and should last another 20 yrs as long as I continue to keep it cool and dry. No 20 yr limit BS at all. As WB said, it will take something extraordinary to convince me to purchase anything but a Strong in the future.

Robert

On Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 10:17:38 AM UTC-5, WB wrote:
> On Monday, June 10, 2019 at 5:36:32 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> > I like the Softie line of chutes and fly with one now. And I agree the folks at Para-Phernalia are great to deal with.
> >
> > But--the manufacturer is one of the few (only?) in the U.S. to set a 20-year life on their products (see below). It can be challenging to get any chute that's more than 20 years old packed--even when it's in superb condition--thanks to the efforts of Allen Silver. Do a search on this newsgroup for (much) more info. But I suspect it will be even more difficult to get a rigger to pack a 20+ year Softie. I wish I'd known this before I bought mine.
> >
> > "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."
> >
> > Chip Bearden
>
> Been flying with a Strong 305 for around 28 years. Got over 3000 hours wearing that chute in various gliders. Comfortable and I like the harness setup. Best of all, Strong stands behind their product and doesn't try to churn sales by issuing an arbitrary "life limit". I send my chute to Strong every year for inspection and repack. They are fast and friendly with getting it done and back to me. If I had to buy another chute, I would definitely look at what's out there with respect to chute tech, comfort, and weight. However, it would take a pretty phenomenal improvement over my 305 to make me consider some manufacturer other than Strong.

[Charlie Quebec]

You don’t re web harnesses after 10 years, wow, just wow.
Its mandatory here in .au, and none compliance means the glider will fail the annual inspection.

[GliderCZ]

When last I went for a regular inspection, my rigger deemed my harness not-airworthy due to corrosion on the fittings and sweat/wear on the straps. At his suggestion, I purchased a new container and harness from the manufacturer. The rigger then transferred my 15-year-old canopy from the old container into the new. He says he has no problems with canopies several decades old, as long as they're undamaged.

Price of a new harness and container is well less than half that of a new chute.

[[email protected][_1_]]

Pardon the thread drift but I was wondering if anyone else besides 5J was using the Aviator and in what gliders.

5J: have you flown gliders besides your Stemme with the Aviator? Impressions?

Feel free to contact me off-line: markgrubb at aol. Com

[Dan Marotta]

Hi Mark,

Yes, I also used my Aviator P-124 in my LAK-17a prior to the Stemme, a
DG-500m-22, an ASH-30mi, and in an HpH 304CZ.Â* All were quite
satisfactory.Â* I used it for a ferry flight in a Cessna 182 which had
not been flown in a dozen or so years and that was not at all comfortable.

On 6/11/2019 7:40 PM, wrote:
>
>
> Pardon the thread drift but I was wondering if anyone else besides 5J was using the Aviator and in what gliders.
>
> 5J: have you flown gliders besides your Stemme with the Aviator? Impressions?
>
> Feel free to contact me off-line: markgrubb at aol. Com

--
Dan, 5J

[Dan Marotta]

Aussies do things differently, Mike.

One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
"engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight.

On 6/11/2019 5:40 PM, Charlie Quebec wrote:
> You don’t re web harnesses after 10 years, wow, just wow.
> Its mandatory here in .au, and none compliance means the glider will fail the annual inspection.

--
Dan, 5J

[Mark Morwood]

On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 12:10:47 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
> Aussies do things differently, Mike.
>
> One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
> glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
> "engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
> the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight..
>

The person that told you that was wrong for Australian glider pilots in Australia, at least since I have been gliding.The daily inspection can be done by anyone with a DI rating, which is most post-solo pilots. This inspection will be noted in the Maintenance Release kept in the glider and is valid for the day. The pre-flight inspection is done by the pilot. I'm not actually sure how the DI would work for "foreign" pilots, as the recognition of foreign qualifications seems to be challenging everywhere, but I assume the DI qualification would be assumed as part of your reciprocal licence as I suspect it is not a separate rating elsewhere in the world.

[Ventus_a]

On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 12:10:47 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
Aussies do things differently, Mike.

One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
"engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight..


The person that told you that was wrong for Australian glider pilots in Australia, at least since I have been gliding.The daily inspection can be done by anyone with a DI rating, which is most post-solo pilots. This inspection will be noted in the Maintenance Release kept in the glider and is valid for the day. The pre-flight inspection is done by the pilot. I'm not actually sure how the DI would work for "foreign" pilots, as the recognition of foreign qualifications seems to be challenging everywhere, but I assume the DI qualification would be assumed as part of your reciprocal licence as I suspect it is not a separate rating elsewhere in the world.

Hi

Adding to the drift...Bottom line is whether or not I can 'sign out' the glider I sure as heck am doing my own preflight to satisfy myself that I want to park my butt in it and commit aviation.

Some years back at the Auckland Gliding Club I checked the daily log in a glider before flying it mid afternoon. No one had signed out the DI and it had already been flown several times....D'oh!

I rest my case lol
Colin

[JS[_5_]]

On Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 5:09:10 PM UTC-7, Mark Morwood wrote:
> On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 12:10:47 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
> > Aussies do things differently, Mike.
> >
> > One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
> > glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
> > "engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
> > the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight.
> >
>
> The person that told you that was wrong for Australian glider pilots in Australia, at least since I have been gliding.The daily inspection can be done by anyone with a DI rating, which is most post-solo pilots. This inspection will be noted in the Maintenance Release kept in the glider and is valid for the day. The pre-flight inspection is done by the pilot. I'm not actually sure how the DI would work for "foreign" pilots, as the recognition of foreign qualifications seems to be challenging everywhere, but I assume the DI qualification would be assumed as part of your reciprocal licence as I suspect it is not a separate rating elsewhere in the world.

It's necessary for a foreign rated pilot to get GFA Form 1 training and certificate. I have one for composites. Also a GFA Glider Pilot Sertificate.
Jim

[Dan Marotta]

My experience was in the mid-1980s and things may very well have changed.

My US license was never an issue as I obtained a temporary GFA
membership which allowed me to fly Australian gliders.Â* I was not
allowed to fly Australian registered airplanes on my US license and my
visit time did not allow getting an Australian license.

The "Daily Inspection" is what I was talking about and, to my knowledge,
there's no similar requirement in the US.Â* My experience has always been
that the Pilot in Command is responsible for the airworthy condition of
the aircraft.Â* Of course there are maintenance and inspection programs,
annual, 100-hour, etc for commercial or rental aircraft, but no daily
inspection requirement beyond the preflight inspection conducted by the
pilot.

Sorry for any confusion I may have caused.

On 6/12/2019 6:09 PM, Mark Morwood wrote:
> On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 12:10:47 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
>> Aussies do things differently, Mike.
>>
>> One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
>> glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
>> "engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
>> the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight.
>>
> The person that told you that was wrong for Australian glider pilots in Australia, at least since I have been gliding.The daily inspection can be done by anyone with a DI rating, which is most post-solo pilots. This inspection will be noted in the Maintenance Release kept in the glider and is valid for the day. The pre-flight inspection is done by the pilot. I'm not actually sure how the DI would work for "foreign" pilots, as the recognition of foreign qualifications seems to be challenging everywhere, but I assume the DI qualification would be assumed as part of your reciprocal licence as I suspect it is not a separate rating elsewhere in the world.
>

--
Dan, 5J

[Mark Morwood]

No apologies necessary from my perspective. I think it is interesting and helpful to understand the differences between how gliding operates in the different countries around the world. Both in case of travel which can be complicated, but also just to learn from others.

On Friday, June 14, 2019 at 2:07:19 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
> My experience was in the mid-1980s and things may very well have changed.
>
> My US license was never an issue as I obtained a temporary GFA
> membership which allowed me to fly Australian gliders.Â* I was not
> allowed to fly Australian registered airplanes on my US license and my
> visit time did not allow getting an Australian license.
>
> The "Daily Inspection" is what I was talking about and, to my knowledge,
> there's no similar requirement in the US.Â* My experience has always been
> that the Pilot in Command is responsible for the airworthy condition of
> the aircraft.Â* Of course there are maintenance and inspection programs,
> annual, 100-hour, etc for commercial or rental aircraft, but no daily
> inspection requirement beyond the preflight inspection conducted by the
> pilot.
>
> Sorry for any confusion I may have caused.
>
> On 6/12/2019 6:09 PM, Mark Morwood wrote:
> > On Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 12:10:47 AM UTC+10, Dan Marotta wrote:
> >> Aussies do things differently, Mike.
> >>
> >> One one trip to The Alice (Bond Springs), when I went to preflight my
> >> glider I was told that I was not authorized to do that.Â* Only the
> >> "engineer" was allowed to do the morning inspection.Â* In the US, it's
> >> the pilot's responsibility to insure that the aircraft is safe for flight.
> >>
> > The person that told you that was wrong for Australian glider pilots in Australia, at least since I have been gliding.The daily inspection can be done by anyone with a DI rating, which is most post-solo pilots. This inspection will be noted in the Maintenance Release kept in the glider and is valid for the day. The pre-flight inspection is done by the pilot. I'm not actually sure how the DI would work for "foreign" pilots, as the recognition of foreign qualifications seems to be challenging everywhere, but I assume the DI qualification would be assumed as part of your reciprocal licence as I suspect it is not a separate rating elsewhere in the world.
> >
>
> --
> Dan, 5J

[[email protected]]

Updated my Softie chute this year.

I went to the aerobatic harness. Not the one with the ratchet system, but the one that crosses over and the metal clips are up on your chest. WHAT A GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN COMFORT. On the normal configuration I would always have to leave the chute very loose to get the hardware from under the seat belt of the glider, and it would at times still dig in.

If you are considering a new chute or container check out the aero harness.

Kevin
92