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Zep

reserve question

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This summer my reserve (Micron 175) is going to have it's 20th birthday
The only time it's seen the light of day is at repack time,
Over the years it's had a new pilot chute and spring.
Now I'm wondering if it's time to retire it an get a new one.

Opinions/views?

Gone fishing

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The only time it's seen the light of day is at repack time,



20 years and not a single jump??? I guess that makes the next question hard to answer - "how does it fly?":P



I'll let you know if an when I use it:)

Gone fishing

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From a gear dealers perspective, I say buy a new one! ;)

But in all practicality, you can have it tested to determine air worthiness.

If you decide to get a new one, there are lots of requests for old parachutes. They usually sell for a couple hundred bucks. Especially a prestine reserve.

Sounds like a personal choice. Let us know how it turns out.

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

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I personally would get a new one!!

I'm not very sure about the legal situation in the US, but as long as your rigger is doing the repack, you should be fine.
You can send the canopy in to the Manufacturer, they will test it on porosity and strength. But usually this is not worth it's money. A old canopy is an old canopy!

blue skies

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The only time it's seen the light of day is at repack time,



20 years and not a single jump??? I guess that makes the next question hard to answer - "how does it fly?":P



I'll let you know if an when I use it:)


It flies and lands like crap. Really. I had one in my 2nd rig, and intentionally jumped it when it was time for it's first (to me) repack. It didn't flare AT ALL. I'm used to an equally old 128 sqft reserve which I can land tippy-toe, but this big 175 gave me a whopping WL of about 0.8 and I still had to PLF. I got comments from other jumpers that I hadn't flared. Well of course I had, even had the steering lines wrapped 1 or 2 times (can't remember) they were so long, the tail was coming down but the canopy didn't slow down AT ALL. It did save my life, but......

That same repack I traded it in for a bigger version of my 128 Transfair, a 156 sqft Mayday.

The Micron was made by Chute Shop, SA, BTW.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

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