Softie PEP and new service life

[councilman24 37]

A but at least Cessna and some others have GARA. General Aviation and Revitalization Act. If Para-Phernalia was covered I doubt they'd have put a life limit on. Or Relative Workshop would have become UPT.

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

[rhys 0]

Hmmm,

They guy we just bought the rig off had this to say when I mentioned the expiry date;

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I can ship to any address you supply in paypal. I talked to the factory and they said as long as the rigger feels good they can repack past 20 years. The factory cannot because of their reasons. The chute looks brand new.
Shawn

I don't really mind so much as it was super cheap and is an brilliant condition so it look great and will only cost us about $150 per year.

I will look into it and contact the manufacturer personally. I

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[rhys 0]

ah I can see how people might potentially get confused here, The work account is under the username;

skydivefj (franz josef) and i have posted here from my computer under my personal username, sorry for any confusion.

Skydive franz josef just bought a second hand softie with preserve in it, made in december 1993, but the think looks brand new...

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix

[captain1976 0]

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I can ship to any address you supply in paypal. I talked to the factory and they said as long as the rigger feels good they can repack past 20 years. The factory cannot because of their reasons. The chute looks brand new.
Shawn

A rigger should be the one who determines what is airworthy or not regardless of what some manufacturer who revises their original manuals does, and many think is in the interest of making more money.

We do this with older aircraft and the final determination of its airworthiness is left up to those licensed to do so.

For this and other reasons I have little respect for Softie. I personally own one as my pilot rig which is 10 years old and the way I keep it, will be good for another 50. It also came with a 12 ft. bridal which is absolutely asinine and highly dangerous.

You live more in the few minutes of skydiving than many people live in their lifetime

[councilman24 37]

The FAA, in the cover authorization for the new TSO, will require manufacturers to include a service life in their maintenance manuals for equipment certified under TSO C23e. We saw this in the cover letter for the version that was issued and withdrawin quickly.

Whether manufactures with say 180 days with renewal subject to inspection by a rigger, 20 years, or indefinate subject to inspection by a rigger is yet to be seen.

One difference between airplanes and parachutes. Some aircraft have legislative relief from liability. Manuf. not liabile after 17 years. Parachutes have no such relief.

Paraphernalia wasn't the first. At the moment, PD, Paraphernalia, Free Flite, Butler, and National impose some kind of limit or recert. requirement. GQ Security did. Airtrec AND A.A.D. if you count AAD's.

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

[JerryBaumchen 1,426]

Hi captain,

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It also came with a 12 ft. bridal which is absolutely asinine and highly dangerous.

Have you contacted them about this? Unless you have a square in there, I think that would be wrong.

But they are the final say in this.

JerryBaumchen

[mjosparky 4]

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Is that 20 year service life (softie,preserve) absolute?

What I am asking is;

Can those rigs be inspected by the factory and a longer life granted?

I tried downloading that manual but my internet connection is really slow right now so it would not complete the download.

We have one that was built in December 93 so it still has a couple of years left, but it is like new, it was in a coset in a carry bag for 15 years.

There would be 10 year old rigs in much worse condition.

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1.4 SERVICE LIFE
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.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[riggerrob 643]

"

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***... Softie. I personally own one as my pilot rig ... It also came with a 12 ft. bridal which is absolutely asinine and highly dangerous.

"

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That's odd!
Para-Phernalia's standard bridle is 6 feet long, like most other round canopies.
Are you sure that is a (Para-Phernalia) original bridle?

[JerryBaumchen 1,426]

Hi Rob,

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Para-Phernalia's standard bridle is 6 feet long,

There is an old saying in fabrication: Measure twice & cut once.

Maybe they really did measure twice.

JerryBaumchen

[fcajump 164]

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We do this with older aircraft and the final determination of its airworthiness is left up to those licensed to do so.

Recollection is that some aircraft have (through AD's) been life limited based on the experiences of age and inspections... If memory serves the Sky Van has been flight hour limited. True, not due to calendar hours, but experience in the field leading to imposed age limits.

JW

Always remember that some clouds are harder than others...