On Mar 2, 10:43*am, Dan Marotta wrote:
Well, like all internet forums, this one provides one good answer
(find a local rigger) and a bunch of useless comments.

If those of you who make comments about the value of my life would
have just RTFQ, you'd see that I'd only consider this if the equipment
passes testing.

I've owned this parachute since about 1988 and all ADs issued between
when it was new and 2000, when I stopped soaring for reasons beyond my
control, have been complied with. *I'll happily buy a new 'chute if
the old one is not serviceable.

Thanks, JJ, for a decent answer.

I went through this same exercise when I bought my plane 18 months
ago.
It had a Strong parachute with it that hadn't been repacked in 7
years, and
was over 20 years old. I actually sent it to Strong, who proclaimed
it a good
'chute, replaced the drogue, and sent it back for a reasonable price.
I've had
it repacked locally since then.

My local flying mentor (who once was a parachute instructor) says that
he
usually sends his parachute back to the manufacturer about every 5
years
since they may have additional insight into the condition, and will
know
about required updates before others do.

So, my take would be to check with the manufacturer if they're still
around.
If not, then see what your local rigger says.

-- Matt