Newbie needs purchasing advise-older gear

[velvet 0]

Hello
I'm looking at a used Javelin (DOM 96) with a Sabre 190 (DOM 90) with new lines not even a year ago and a Rascal 200 Reserve (DOM 89) that has never been used. 600 jumps on the rig. The advantage is that it is local and I can check it out. The dates scare me a little, but I'm new to the sport and don't really know. What do you guys think? Would you jump it?

[velvet 0]

Oh Yeah, I 6'0" and 185.

[GravityGirl 0]

Where do you jump?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[velvet 0]

UTAH

[rigging65 0]

Don't be too scared by the dates. If equipment is taken care of well, it can last for many, many years. I've seen a bunch of stuff form the 80's that is still in great shape...doesn't have all the features that newer gear does, but it's certainly airworthy. Have a rigger check it out to be sure.

Utah, huh? What's the field elevation where you jump? What's you're experience like? Ever jumped a 190 before? Higher field elevations result in quicker descents (ie- you need a bigger canopy to slow you down more). Depending on your experience level, field elevation, etc., that 190 might be a bit on the small side. Some more info might help a bit...you talking to your instructors about the gear would help the most!

"...and once you had tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward.
For there you have been, and there you long to return..."

[Nightingale 0]

My rigger will not pack a reserve that old. I was thinking of purchasing some gear with that same age reserve and had three riggers tell me they wouldn't pack it.

[councilman24 37]

I'm a little surprised that riggers wouldn't pack a 1989 reserve. Are you sure it was the age or was it something else? I'd discourage someone from on original Raven that needed (not mandatory) a bikini slider added. Also I wouldn't pack an original 5 cell swift. But that's more design than age. Most riggers I've talked to are using either 20 or 25 years for cutoff unless there is another reason. (i.e. PD 40 packs) Some are using 15 years and that would make 1989 the limit. Hmmm sometimes I forget how long I've been doing this.

To this rig. If it's in good shape and the 190 Sabre is right for you don't let the dates bother you. My "new" rig is 1997. Depending on condition I'd expect to pay $1400 to $1800 for this rig.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[riggerrob 643]

Quote

My rigger will not pack a reserve that old. I was thinking of purchasing some gear with that same age reserve and had three riggers tell me they wouldn't pack it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That's odd.
I am more in line with councilman about refusing to repack gear that is more than 20 or 25 years old.

Last year I retired my 19 year old Mirage because I was too lazy to replace the Velcro. Oh! Wait a minute! I just got a new binder. Damn! One fewer excuses.
Mind you, I replaced it with a Vector I - built in 1986 - that I am updating to Vector II standards. Hee! Hee!

Yesterday I was chatting with another rigger about what we are planning to teach at an up-coming CSPA Riggers' course. We agree that a Bullet(similar to Canadian equivalent of Wonderhog) with a 26 LoPo round reserve was the oldest rig we were willing to teach new riggers to pack. Hint, Bullets were still in production 20 years ago.
Rascals may not be the most glamorous of reserves, but they are solid, mid-1980s vintage technology, with no service bulletins.

[Nightingale 0]

they hadn't even seen the canopy. I just told them about it, and they advised me not to buy it, and said they wouldn't pack it. I took their advice and got a 1997 pd 176 instead.

[PhreeZone 20]

Damn, I've packed a 84 Swift 5 cell in an 85 Vector1. I use my age as a determination. If it was built before I was born (1980), I probally won't pack it unless its something special like a Chest mount 26 lopo on with a PC on the back... (Thats a spring project ).

I had no issues packing the Swift since the owner knew how to land it since he's from that time and had experience under it already. The Flyaway Breaks are something else though.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[councilman24 37]

I was packing one for the original owner until about 4 years ago. I didn't stop packing it, he stoped jumping. But, while it was airworthy and I had been servicing it for 15 years, I didn't like to pack it based on design. I bought one of my own in 1982. The non cascaded lines, the funky breaks, the small grommets on the slider etc, etc. make it too removed from state of the art.

But it just depends what each of us is comfortable putting our name on.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[Auryn 0]

Quote

My rigger will not pack a reserve that old. I was thinking of purchasing some gear with that same age reserve and had three riggers tell me they wouldn't pack it.

interesting. My reserve is a Phantom Square 180 DOM 1990 no deployments, stored for 10 years from 1991-2001 when I got it. Never have had any problems with it. I've seen it several times and it is a gorgeous canopy in incredible shape. (not above my head of course.. yet.. knock on wood.)

I've heard the rule for the shelf life of a reserve is 20 years. so I am good until 2010, going by that rule.

anyone heard anything different ?

blue ones !

D27808

[masher 1]

Quote

I've heard the rule for the shelf life of a reserve is 20 years. so I am good until 2010, going by that rule.

anyone heard anything different ?

It depends on the manufacturer.

In Oz, if the manufacturer _hasn't_ issued a "use-by-date" you can use it until it's deemed unairworthy.

If the manufacturer _has_ issued a "use-by-date" you can use it until that date, then it has to be withdrawn from service.

If the manufacturer _has_ issued a "use-by-date", and you can't read the manufactured on date, on the canopy, then it has to be withdrawn from service.

--
Arching is overrated - Marlies