I think it depends on the environment it is in and how it is looked after. A couple of hundred hours in a cockpit at 50 deg. With the pilot sweating on it may not be too good.
I've seen videos of paragliders and hang gliders throwing reserves. One stayed in a ball the size of a 15 litre bucket at the end of a 5M bridle. The may canopy was only 20% inflated they fell 3000 ft, It never opened. I've also seen footage of a parachutist deploying a recently repacked main, then one that had not been repacked for 12+ months. There was at least a 3-4 second difference. From memory 3-4 sec is around a 1000ft at terminal velocity. I know of some people that consider a 3 sec delay acceptable. Personally I've deployed an emergency chute at around 300ft agl in a paraglider, with 20-30% of the canopy inflated. I managed to get the chute out and it inflated just before I hit the water. 3 sec would have made a significant. Cheers Steve -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jonoh Sent: Monday, 28 May 2007 8:08 AM To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Parachute repacking > At a 1987 GFA seminar we had a very interesting talk by a parachute > rigger. He showed us that a chute will open quicker for the > first month or so after a repack and after that it stayed about the > same for a year Did he have any data on what happens after 12 months? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Borgelt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 6:20 PM Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Parachute repacking > At 06:12 PM 25/05/2007, you wrote: >>What do they do when they repack other than inspect for deterioration of >>the materials? >>Why is 6 months chosen as the interval? >>Anyone know? >>PeterS > > Because the canopy, rigging lines and pilot chute can move around > inside the pack with donning, removal and generall wearing of the chute. > > At a 1987 GFA seminar we had a very interesting talk by a parachute > rigger. He showed us that a chute will open quicker for the > first month or so after a repack and after that it stayed about the > same for a year. > > I'd say the people who came up with the 6 months know this and just > applied a conservative safety factor. > > Mike > Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments > phone Int'l + 61 746 355784 > fax Int'l + 61 746 358796 > cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784 > Int'l + 61 429 355784 > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > website: www.borgeltinstruments.com > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [email protected] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
