Lifespan of a parachute canopy?

Marc Ramsey wrote:

Eric Greenwell wrote:

Based on the above, I'm going to have Strong repack my parachute
before the season, even though I'm still considering a new parachute.
I've eliminated the National because I don't like the idea of the
rubber bands, so it's down to the Para-Phernalia Softie. The
Micro-Softie seems the most attractive of their line, and I'm thinking
one with the "thread-thru" adapters instead of snaps on the leg straps
would be the most comfortable.


I think you'll find that just about all emergency parachutes use rubber
bands, my Mini-Softie certainly has them...

And I just discovered my Strong has them, too, so it's apparently not an
issue, at least the way I store and use my parachute. If it was, I think
I riggers packing it over it's 26 year life would've mentioned a problem
if they'd seen one.


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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

..
"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...

And I just discovered my Strong has them, too, so it's apparently not an
issue, at least the way I store and use my parachute. If it was, I think I
riggers packing it over it's 26 year life would've mentioned a problem if
they'd seen one.


I assume, then, that you have never actually seen this 'chute that you have
been wearing for how many years?

Shouldn't you at least pop it once before you get it re-packed to see for
yourself and get familier with what you own, what it takes to "pull the
ripcord", what the risers look like, what you would likely tug on to steer
it, etc.???

Worried about rubberbands? See for yourself what shape they are in after
being stored.

Or is it just the engineer in me that makes me do things like that?

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Geoff
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Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe wrote:
.
"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...

And I just discovered my Strong has them, too, so it's apparently not an
issue, at least the way I store and use my parachute. If it was, I think I
riggers packing it over it's 26 year life would've mentioned a problem if
they'd seen one.



I assume, then, that you have never actually seen this 'chute that you have
been wearing for how many years?

Shouldn't you at least pop it once before you get it re-packed to see for
yourself and get familier with what you own, what it takes to "pull the
ripcord", what the risers look like, what you would likely tug on to steer
it, etc.???

All good ideas, and I did pull the ripcord on it once years ago. It was
so easy, that I haven't bothered to do it again. I do re-read the manual
once a year (or similar article), so I think I'll be able to tell the
steering rings from whatever other stuff is within reach. I also sit in
the cockpit now and then, visualizing exiting the glider, operating the
jettison levers and seat belt release, looking for the ripcord, tugging
it, and so on.

Actually seeing the parachute innards probably wouldn't do me any good,
since I don't have any training in evaluating their condition.


Worried about rubberbands? See for yourself what shape they are in after
being stored.

I've just come from talking with the rigger that's done my parachute for
several years. He says he replaces them routinely on the parachutes he
repacks if they don't look like the new ones, but not necessarily every
time.

I did test the rubber bands that come wrapped around our newspaper.
Fifteen minutes at 275 deg F didn't seem to affect them at all, so it's
more than temperature that causes them to degrade (I'm guessing they
just get old). They didn't become brittle at 0 deg F, either, so I've
stopped worrying about them.

He also said my canopy was in excellent condition, that the harness was
very good, but if I wanted to get a new parachute, he'd could help with
that, too.

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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

Eric, et al.

It would be interesting to know what type of chute,
age, time since last repack, etc was worn by those
who have used them.

The most recent that I'm aware of is the ASH-26E pilot
who bailed out when the glider wanted to become a 'kit
form' glider again. (I.E., shed it's wings in flight
when going pretty fast...)

Tim Mara bailed from an LS1-f some years ago.

Others?



At 21:36 17 January 2006, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Martyn Johnson wrote:
Does anyone know when our 17 year old emergency parachute
canopy will pass its use-by date? Indeed, is there
a definite lifespan, or is it down to the discretion
of the packer?

Some of the posts on this subject got me wondering
about my 26 year old
Strong parachute, even though it's been repacked every
year, including
at Strong in '97. So, I checked with Strong, National,
and
Para-phernalia, the major manufacturers.

Strong: they are quite clear that they don't have a
life limitation,
saying on their website they will repack and certify
their parachutes
based on inspection, even 30 year old parachutes. They
recommend having
them repack it at least once every 5 years, so it can
be inspected and
any modifications done. They also say leaving it in
the aircraft is not
a problem, as long as the parachute is protected from
the sun.

Para-Phernalia (Softie Parachutes): Dan told me they
don't have a
service life, but 'they get picky' about the condition
of the parachute
after 20 years. They will repack their parachutes (Softies)
that are
more than 20 years old, but not other brands. Leaving
it in the glider
in the trailer is not a problem; however, if the parachute
temperature
will exceed 130 degrees F, he urged it be stored some
place cooler.

National: I talked to a rigger there, who told me they
have a 20 year
service life. He did not think it was a good idea to
leave the parachute
in glider (even in a trailer) during the summer, because
high
temperatures (100+ degrees F or so) could damage the
rubber bands they
use to sequence the opening. Winter temperatures could
also be a
problem, as the rubber bands could become brittle in
sub-zero (F)
temperatures, and be damaged if the parachute was moved.

Based on the above, I'm going to have Strong repack
my parachute before
the season, even though I'm still considering a new
parachute. I've
eliminated the National because I don't like the idea
of the rubber
bands, so it's down to the Para-Phernalia Softie. The
Micro-Softie seems
the most attractive of their line, and I'm thinking
one with the
'thread-thru' adapters instead of snaps on the leg
straps would be the
most comfortable.

Does anyone have experience with the thread-thru adapters?

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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA