Para-Cushion Saves Life (back
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MAIN CANOPIES WANTED (back
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For years people have asked us why only the SET canopy series is approved for use in the DHT. The answer is simple, other manufactures are not willing to take the necessary steps to get their canopies approved! Strong Enterprises has always been willing to evaluate/test additional main canopies, however other manufacturers have not been willing to provide the necessary information/documentation to allow us to perform the evaluation.
With the upcoming release of the new tandem system Strong Enterprises renewed its effort to get additional canopies approved for use in both systems. On May 24th letters requesting tandem canopies for evaluation were sent and received by:
Flight Concepts - received May 27th
JoJo Wings - international
Aerodyne - received May 26th
Precision Aerodynamics - received May 31st
Performance Designs - received May 26th
Parachute Labs inc, DBA Jump Shack - Sent June 14th - Received June 16th
The letters outlined the exact requirements needed to evaluate each canopy and approve it for use in Strong Enterprises Tandem Systems. Including:
Provide a Main canopy for evaluation (with appropriate markings)
Include summary of development history (with tests/jumps performed)
Include Packing/Maintenance Manual (with line trim and service life information)
Risers (if not provided will only be able to approve when used in conjunction with SE risers)
It is Strong Enterprises desire and hope that this new effort will be rewarded with additional main canopies being approved for use in the DHT and new tandem systems. Progress and updates will be posted as they become available.
If you’d like more information about this topic please contact Mike Rinaldi by phone 407 859 9317 or e-mail Mike at tandem@strongparachutes.com
CONTINUED SERVICE (back
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With the introduction of the long awaited new tandem system questions have arisen regarding the availability of components and service for the DHT system.
There is no need to worry, Strong Enterprises will continue to build, maintain, and service the DHT system. The new tandem system is a welcome addition to the product line and is not meant to replace the DHT. Strong Enterprises intends to continue building and selling both the DHT and the new tandem systems, as well as all components for both systems.
We understand the importance of continuing to strengthen and build our relationship with our customers and want every customer to know that the new system will not take away from the DHT. Strong Enterprises will continue to make improvements to the DHT and keep it current.
If you’d like more information about this topic please contact Mike Rinaldi by phone 407 859 9317 or e-mail Mike at tandem@strongparachutes.com
Education Work Day (back
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On Thursday April 28, 2011 Mr. Strong’s granddaughters Madeline, Sophie, Bella, and Cecilia accompanied him to work for the day. According to their mission statement the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® Day, has inspired a future generation of girls and boys by helping bring them into the workplace to explore the many life choices they have. In it’s 19th year the program has seen more than 35 million youth and adults participating in this educational program.
During their day Mr. Strong showed them the process involved in making a parachute, from start to finish.
He started by showing the girls how the fabric once received is inspected for any discrepancies by shining light through the cloth.
From there they moved to the store room where raw materials are stored awaiting orders.
Next the education continued by explaining how the materials are cut for each order and then sewn together in specific ways that allow the containers and canopies to take shape and become a final product. They learned about the different machines that are used and the automatic machines that make the process easier.
From there they followed the product to the inspection area where they learned how the different pieces were inspected using different tools and then assembled together to create a complete unit. They learned about the different types of parachutes and their uses, from round to square, personnel to cargo.
Finally the completed product was taken to the shipping area and the girls learned the process that happens from inspecting that all pieces of the order are present to packaging them so that everything arrives in perfect order to the customer.
In order to fully understand the products that the girls learned about during the day Mr. Strong then told them how the products were used and showed them many different photographs of the products in use.
In appreciation for the day spent teaching them about the products and how learning never stops the girls drew a series of pictures and Madeline even wrote a poem showing that even in just a day the sport is addictive no matter the age.
Blue Skies!
“Parachutes”
By: Madeline Cirineo (14 years old)
4-28-2011
Parachutes fall from the sky,
People jumping from way up high.
Falling fast they pull the line,
the parachute comes out, every things fine.
Their parachute floats to the ground
the canopies either square or round.
Falling closer and closer to the floor,
When I land I want to fly some more!
Flying back up in my airplane,
some people wonder if I’m sane.
I jump when we reach the sky.
Crazy? Maybe, but I love to fly!
Quasar
II Press Release (back
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April 18, 2007. Strong Enterprises has recently
been made aware of a reserve pilot
chute extraction scenario where it failed
to clear the reserve container during a ground
reserve extraction in a rigging loft.
This scenario simulated a reserve activation
with the main container closed and the main
riser covers still in place. We were able
to duplicate the same scenario again on our
own, and began immediate and extensive testing
and customer record review to
determine what models and what configurations
required attention.
Repeated tests with the main tray open and
riser covers off (simulating an open main
to
reserve cutaway), resulted in clean reserve
pilot chute deployments clearing the reserve
tray.
The simulated scenario of a closed main container
(main flaps closed and riser covers
closed) however, reproduced the reserve pilot
chute hesitation, and hang up of the base
coil of the pilot chute on the bottom reserve
flap.
To date, there have been no reports of live
reserve activation issues from the field,
in
either the partial malfunction (open main
tray) configuration, or the total malfunction
(closed main tray) scenario. We have determined
however that despite the clean track
record of the Quasar II reserve systems activated
in the field, that we must temporarily
ground all Quasar II systems, effective immediately,
and modify the reserve tray
configuration to ensure that the (main in
container) reserve extraction scenario that
currently exists does not pose a safety risk
to our customers.
A solution is in place for the Quasar II reserve
system and Strong Enterprises will
provide this modification at no charge with
compliance from April 18, 2007 to
September 30, 2007. We are skydivers as well,
and we regret the inconvenience that
this recall may impose on our customers, and
pledge to have every Quasar II received
for upgrades, back in the mail within a 1
day to 2 week time frame.
See
Strong Enterprises Service Bulletin #26 for
further details.
DHT
"Y-Mod" passenger harness modification
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Orlando
Florida, November 1, 2006.
Strong
Enterprises’ announces that all new
Dual Hawk Tandem System passenger harnesses
shipped after November 1, 2006 will have the
"Y-Mod" passenger harness modification.
The "Y-Mod" has undergone three
months of field tests at a variety of dropzones
around the U.S., and has received tremendous
positive feedback from tandem instructors
and passengers alike.
Existing Dual Hawk passenger harnesses sent
in for maintenance or service life inspection
intervals will also have the “Y-Mod”
installed. Strong Enterprises will also be
accepting Dual Hawk passenger harnesses from
the field for modification prior to service
life inspection intervals. Please contact
us at (407) 859-9317 prior to mailing any
harnesses for the modification to ensure a
quick turn around. Price for installing the
modification is $120.00 per harness. (Dual
Hawk passenger harnesses manufactured November
1, 2005 through October 31, 2006 will be accepted
for Y-Mod installation free of charge if received
prior to May 1, 2007.)
Strong Enterprises will also be accepting
Dual Hawk passenger harnesses at the Parachute
Industry Association (PIA) symposium for Y-Mod
installation February 5, 2007 through February
9, 2007 at our symposium booth. All harnesses
received at PIA will be returned with the
Y-Mod prior to April 1, 2007 for the start
of the Spring 2007 season.
Y-MOD
HARNESS INSTRUCTIONS
The addition of the Y-Mod passenger harness modification does not
change the original fitting instructions of
the Dual Hawk Tandem System passenger harness.
The Y-Mod should be treated as an additional
step in proper harness fitting when installed.
The Y-Mod allows the horizonal back strap to pass through its webbing
and be securely tightened, as per normal passenger
harness fitting instructions.
 
Once
the horizontal back strap has been securely
tightened, and all other traditional webbing
adjustments have been made, the Y-Mod can
then be tightened by pulling down on the excess
webbing protruding from the friction adaptor
located just below the harness back pad.
The tightening of the Y-Mod webbing will secure
the Y-Mod webbing and leg straps in place.
The excess Y-Mod webbing can then be stowed
under the fabric keeper.
  
ISO
9001 AS9100 Certification Press Release
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Orlando
Florida, 7 April 2006
Ted Strong, President of Strong Enterprises,
an Orlando Florida Parachute Manufacturer
announced today that it has successfully implemented
The Aerospace Quality Standard AS9100 as well
as The International Quality Standard ISO
9001:2000.
Bob Gilmour, Operations Manager and Natasha
Mitchell Quality Program Manager said that
the organization's entire Quality Management
System (QMS) was redesigned for the implementation.
Being certified to the SAE AS9100 and ISO
9000 International Standards for quality gives
assurances to our Aerospace, Defense, Tandem,
Sport and Emergency Parachute customers that
Strong Enterprises is committed to providing
the highest quality products possible.
Many governments around the world are now
requiring ISO 9000 Certification before they
will consider a company’s products for
purchase. AS9100 adds many additional requirements
necessary to address civil and military aviation
and aerospace needs.
Strong Enterprises a Division of S.E. Inc.
specializes in the design, development and
manufacturing of personnel parachutes as well
as advanced Precision Aerial Cargo Delivery
Systems in use by the US Army. Founded in
1960, Strong Enterprises is among the oldest
and largest full-line parachute manufacturers
in the world.
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Press
Release Patent (back
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Press Release
23 October 2003
Strong Enterprises, of Orlando Florida,
is issued US Patent No, 6,622,968 B1
For Immediate Release: Strong Enterprises, pioneers of the revolutionary
concept of Airborne Delivery of Manned Vehicles; is pleased to
announce patent approval for our "Guided Airborne Vehicle,
Cargo and Personnel Delivery System".
Issue date of Patent: September 23,
2003.
Abstract: A guided aerial
delivery device, which safely and precisely
delivers a standard vehicle, personnel and/or
cargo, from a high-flying aircraft, to a precise
target or location. In the preferred embodiment,
the aerial delivery device generally comprises
a frame-like module, which encloses and secures
a standard, motorized vehicle, a large "ram-air" type
gliding parachute, a drogue" parachute
and a "fly-by-wire" control system.
The vehicle needs no modification. The delivery
device employs an onboard human pilot to navigate
the module. Upon exiting the aircraft a drogue
parachute stabilizes the freefall of the vehicle
and releases the large "ram-air" parachute.
The use of a skilled pilot allows the aerial
delivery device to be guided to a designated
landing site. Upon landing, the vehicle is
easily detached from its parachute and driven
away. The frame-like module can be removed
from the vehicle in a matter of minutes, or
in the preferred application it can be left
on the vehicle for future drops and utilized
for mission specific tasks on the ground, such
as mounting supplies, weapons, instruments
etc. The vehicle is fully functional with the
frame-like module attached. In an alternate
embodiment, a non-powered vehicle is integrated
with the enclosure, to act as a training vehicle.
Upon landing the training vehicle is simply
hitched to a motorized vehicle and driven off.
Please allow our staff to answer any questions you may have on
this project and any other of our fine Parachute products. For
further information, brochures, photos and videos on these and
other highly innovative products please contact Strong Enterprises
or visit our web site:
www.strongparachutes.com
Strong Enterprises, 11236 Satellite Blvd., Orlando, FL 32837
POC Ted Strong 407 859 9317
Ted@strongparachutes.com
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Ted's
USPA Gold Medal (back
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Press Release
21 October 2003
 On
Tuesday October 21st 2003 as part of the Nationals
Awards Ceremony, Glenn Bangs, President
of the USPA Executive Committee awarded Ted
Strong D-16, the USPA Gold Medal for Meritorious
Achievement.
With an audience of hundreds of our country's top skydivers looking
on, Mr. Bangs described an almost half century of exemplary contributions
to Sport Parachuting as both a 40 year veteran in style and accuracy,
competing in 35 Nationals, and for his innovative and revolutionary
design and developments in parachute equipment.
The beautifully framed plaque reads:
USPA GOLD MEDAL
Awarded for Exceptional Personal
Achievement within the Sport of Skydiving
2002 - Ted Strong
"For almost a half-century of contributions to the skydiving community as
a competitor, as sponsor of numerous US parachute teams, and most notably, his
unique innovation in parachute equipment design including the tandem skydiving
system and its importance to the growth of the sport in general and USPA in particular."
Ted Strong got drafted into the Army in 1959 where because of his
prior jump experience (first jump 1958) he was assigned to train
cadets at West Point.
Recognizing the Worlds' need for parachute equipment designed specifically
for civilian sport jumping, Ted founded Strong Enterprises in 1961,
now the oldest and largest full line manufacturer of general aviation
parachute equipment in the United States. Originally established
in Quincy MA, the company was moved to Orlando, FL in 1976 because
weather permits year round fun jumping and parachute testing.
Ted still spends time behind a sewing machine working on new concepts.
Always the first to live test jump his new designs, Ted makes about
100 jumps per year, putting his total at over 4,600. A multiple
patent holder, Ted designed and built the first tandem system in
1983. The tandem concept is now the most common method for training
a novice to skydive.
Most recently Ted is credited with the successful design and testing
of the Airborne Delivery of Manned Vehicles concept. Manned from
aircraft exit to landing, we predict this innovative concept will
become the commonly accepted method of Airborne Vehicle/Personnel
Delivery. On September 23 2003 Patent No.: US 6,622,968 B1 was
issued for: Guided Airborne Vehicle, Cargo and Personnel Delivery
System. Ted is currently working on several other new and equally
innovative projects.
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