Mostly correct......

Security Chutes (GQ) are still being manufactured and sold in the UK, but no
longer in the USA...I am not certain, maybe our UK friends can better
answer, but I was told new parachute by GQ have a strict 12 year(?) life
limit now, afterwards they can no longer be used....I know there are similar
limits in some European countries.
There was a big issue with some earlier Security parachutes having an acid
reaction to the material causing the canopy materials to deteriorate. This
was however not only a Security problem but also affected most other
manufacturers as well. All manufacturers are still required to test canopy
material for acid (PH) and I know for fact that the major manufacturers have
even in very recent times had to reject material for this same problem.
In the USA there is not a specific requirement in the FARs to "condemn"
parachute at any specified time, but the manufacturers have typically set
life limits on their own products at 20 years, and will not "normally" I&R a
parachute after passing the 20th birthday. Most reputable riggers also will
recommend retiring parachutes after 20 years if not reject or refuse to I&R
and typically riggers are not going to be the retail dealers for new
parachutes so doing so is not a sales gimmick to sell new parachutes.
I have had some (very rare) chutes that were at, near or even over 20 years
that were sill so "unused" that I just couldn't justify destroying them, but
could also not offer them for sale knowing the buyer may have problems
getting the I&R done later when necessary, these chutes I've kept on hand
for locals to borrow or buy (for not much more than the cost of the I&R)
since I could keep an eye on them. I would not recommend selling any used
parachute that was not in very good condition, even if still much younger
than the 20 year birthday and rather than put a few hundred $ in my pocket
would highly recommend others do the same. A few $ is not worth the
potential risk you may be placing on the unknowing buyer.
Just MHO
tim


JC wrote in message ...
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.