About us
Company Bios

About Us
HISTORY: Founded in 1960, Strong Enterprises moved from Quincy, Massachusetts to its present location in Orlando in 1976. Combining skilled craftsmanship with production techniques and customized design capability, Strong has been an industry leader in quality and innovation, and has grown from a single sewing machine to a 20,000 square foot factory with hundreds of sewing machines and state-of-the-art parachute equipment manufacturing systems and technology.

In our history we have designed and built parachutes from four inches (stabilizing systems for larger objects in freefall) up to 64 feet in diameter.

The Strong tandem skydiving system revolutionized sport parachuting around the world.

We are the oldest and largest manufacturer of general aviation parachute equipment in the United States, and our world-wide market includes emergency parachutes for pilots and aircrew members, skydiving assemblies, tandem parachutes for training, military troop and special forces equipment, as well as other engineered textile specialty products.

The Strong brand name is recognized around the world. You can find Strong products at nearly every airport, military installation and parachute and skydiving center. Our products have flown on the early, pioneering space shuttle missions and our systems are part of the planned exploration of Mars.

CAPABILITIES: Unlike most parachute companies that make only a single component such as a harness or a canopy, we are a full-line, full-service manufacturer. Beginning with raw materials of cloth, webbing and cord, our capabilities and expertise expanded from component parts to harnesses, containers, round canopies, and ram air "square" canopies and reserves; along the way, we added ripcords, ring slots and ribbon chutes.

If it can be sewn or jumped, we can do it.

FACILITIES: We excel because we are more than just a sewing or riggers' shop: we design, test and fabricate parachutes as complete systems – and we do it all under one roof.

Using our specialized 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-needle sewing machines, including automatic, computerized, and heavy duty machines, we've made everything from one-off prototypes to production runs of thousands.

In many cases our licensed parachute riggers assemble and pack the system so it is ready for use upon receipt by the customer.

Our FAA-approved quality control system meets the requirements of FAR Part 21 and MIL-I-45208.

Our staff includes several experienced personnel with more than 25 years experience in making, rigging and using parachutes. Factory tours can be arranged.

PRODUCTS: While we do manufacture cargo chutes, stabilization drogues, recovery systems and aerial delivery equipment, the main component of our production line is personnel parachutes and tandem rigs.
• nine complete parachute systems certified to Federal Aviation Administration TSO C23b or C23c,
• 3 models of emergency bail-out parachutes
• 9 models of round canopies
• 31 different models of ram air canopies ranging from 120 square feet to 1,200 square feet

TRAINING: Our primary focus is manufacturing, but if requirements exist, we can offer beginning and advanced rigger training at our Orlando facility by special arrangement.

We also offer Tandem parachute instructor training at our Orlando plant, or at your facility through our world-wide network of Tandem examiners.

MAINTENANCE & SUPPORT: Our licensed parachute riggers stand ready to inspect and repack all parachute equipment, and if repairs are required, our maintenance personnel are equipped to perform any necessary repairs or alterations. If the volume of work warrants, we can assign temporary personnel to your facility.

If you provide drawings, samples, or just an idea, we can take your project from concept to production. We always have something on the drawing board, but we always welcome the opportunity to discuss challenging new projects.

Strong Enterprises Company Bios

Ted Strong started skydiving in 1958, entered the US Army in 1959 with 100 jumps, and was stationed at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY for two years.  His duty there was to coach the USMA Cadet Parachute Team and the West Point Sport Parachute Club.  During his time in the service, SP-4 Ted Strong graduated from Fort Campbell Airborne School and Fort Lee, Parachute Rigger School. In 1961, Mr. Strong attended Boston University and formed Strong Enterprises, a parachute-manufacturing firm in Quincy, Massachusetts. In 1976 he moved the company to it’s current location in Orlando, FL where we manufacture sport skydiving systems, tandem parachute systems, aerial cargo delivery systems, emergency parachutes for pilots, and military parachute systems. As a FAA master rigger and past DPRE, he has trained over 300 FAA Senior parachute technicians.  Throughout Ted’s hobby of skydiving, he has accrued over 4,800 jumps while significantly contributing to the company’s development and growth.
As President, Ted has been involved in many cargo and personnel parachute development programs, two of the most successful are the Dual Hawk Tandem and the 2K and 10K SCREAMER Precision Delivery System.

Candace (Candy) Bennage, Controller, has been with Strong Enterprises since October of 2003. She is an avid aviation enthusiast and when not at our facility, you can probably find her at an Air Show! She is a member of the Kissimmee Airport Advisory Board, AOPA and Women in Aviation International. She is a remedial student pilot with over 100hrs stick time. Maybe some day she will obtain her goal, and get her pilot's license! Then she can parachute out of her own plane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

John Makoski is a Sales Manager for Strong Enterprises. He has worked at Strong since 1992, and takes care of Sales and Service for all of our Products. John travels around the country to Fly-Ins and industry trade shows, manning our sales booth and educating our customers about Strong's products. John has made numerous skydives, is an avid surfer, and has never met an extreme sport that he doesn't like.

Mike Rinaldi is a Sales Manager at Strong Enterprises. He has worked at Strong since December 2003. Mike can be found here in the office or out in the field with Strong Enterprises providing sales, service and support to our customers in the Sport, Tandem, Pilot and Military industries all around the world. Mike grew up in the Bronx, NY and moved to Florida in 2002. He has been skydiving since August 24, 1999 (D-24196) and has a little more than 1300 jumps. He is a Coach, Strong Tandem Instructor and a senior rigger.

Chuck McHugh has worked for Strong Enterprises since 1995. He is currently the head of R&D, although he also is known to work in the engineering, inspection, and tandem departments. Chuck is a Senior Rigger, private pilot and tandem instructor with over 3700 Tandem jumps. He is a veteran of thirty years in skydiving with over 6000 sport jumps. Chuck has given many presentations at PIA as well as Drop Zones across the country on Tandem equipment and jumping. When he isn't playing with parachutes Chuck can be found playing on his boat in the intercoastal waterways, exploring, fishing, and just relaxing.

Jessie Hanson came to Strong Enterprises in 2009 as a seamstress, after 2 months it was decided that her talents were better suited for the office. She now works as the Contract Administrator for Strong Enterprises helping to keep all projects running smooth. She also is responsible for trying to keep the product manuals as up to date as possible. In her spare time she is learning to pack in order to get her riggers ticket, and jumping when she can (that "A" license is so close, if only she could work from the DZ)!

D. Kelley started working for Strong Enterprises in 1983. She is responsible for the Riggers of Strong Enterprises. With over 35 years of parachute rigging experience Kelley is the BEST there is, and Strong Enterprises is proud to have her talents. She has worked on every major project during the last 25+ years and has been there to rig, pack, maintain, and repair them all, she may even know the products better than Ted. Kelley travels to Air Shows and Clinics all over Florida and annually makes the trip to OshKosh to pack pilot emergency parachutes, over the years many pilots have come to rely on her attention to detail and quick turn-around time for their packing needs. When not traveling Kelley enjoys spending time with her dog, cat, and macaw, as well as with her friends.