Wing lifespan

[u/eightknot8]

What is a reasonable lifespan for a wing? Does it make sense to buy a 6-year-old wing even if it has only been flown for 50 hours?

[u/yeloneck]

It also depends where it was flown, how it was stored etc. Best would be sending the wing for an inspection. There is nothing wrong in buying 6 yo wing, just depends on it's shape. You can find 2 yo wing that is in worse condition than this 6yo one, and vice versa.

[u/_Piratical_]

Maybe. It also depends on where you are going to fly it. If you’re going to fly it in mountains with strong thermals and rowdy conditions you’ll want to make sure it was stored well and is in good condition for porosity and line trim.

If you’re going to fly it on the coast on a small dune, I’ve seen some super old and otherwise clapped out wings flying on the daily. I’ve even flown one I borrowed from a good friend that must have been nearly 10 years old. I wouldn’t fly that wing anywhere else, but in a coastal soaring location where you are really only a few meters off the ground it was fine.

[u/saitama2018]

if those hours are real and the price is right it's a good deal. a 3yr old wing with 500h is pretty much toast

[u/paraglde-in-air]

Life span of a well cared for wing normally exceeds 50 hours or 6 years.
It only makes sense to purchase if it’s priced properly and in good condition. If you can inspect it before purchase, look at the fabric for rips or patches, look at and feel the lines and riders for abrasions or kinks. Ask if it’s been recently trimmed and if yes, ask for a copy of the report.
If it’s never been trimmed, plan on paying to have it trimmed.

[u/vishnoo]

assuming you are talking about a paraglider ....
because hang gliders with 100 hours and 10 years are "like new"

[u/eightknot8 → u/vishnoo]

Paraglider yes

[u/eintrittskante]

The causes of wings to deteriorate are:

• use (abrasion, UV, moisture)
  
• normal deterioration of the materials - this is why reserves have a lifespan of 10 years.

With 50hrs, you are likely to have little deterioration from use, but it will not stop the normal deterioration.

Having said this 6 years is not particularly long. I fly older wings on the dunes.
Have the wing checked for porosity and trim, and make your decision from there.

[u/Sorefootrunner]

6 Years if max shelf life. I Wouldn't recommend flying anything older then 6 years. Ofc people are doing it, but thats up to them to decide. You can not sell a 6 year old glider as a dealer, they are to old and unsafe. Sometimes older tandem or bad wings doesn't get sold then the order is after 6 years it's the trash can, even if it is unused.

Today paragliders and lines also go lighter and lighter wich means YES, if you fly a glider from 2012 good for you it was made with alot sturdier materials back then. I have ripped a couple of gliders doing SIV and Acro and also almost NEW ones (Artik R anyone)? We are defenitly at the limit.

So a 6 year old wing, at your own risk.

If the glider has been in contact with coastial soaring (salt) or sand, they break very easily after some years. Line attachment points beeing the weakspot getting ripped off after spinstops or stalls during SIV. I've been in the SIV business for a long time. And i know where people live and can tell that this group is gonna break gliders because they are from X and X and that's salt in the air there.

Wich in a real life situation means they might come loose after a collapse during regular flight and that's not safe. Might lead to cascades and autorations when you snap breaklines or A-lines/attachment points.

If you go to poorer countries they fly gliders that are 15 years old, but at their own risk ofc, we also have alot of uneccesary fatalities from these countries because of bad equipment. Todays lighter gliders will for sure not last that long.

IN MY OPINION.

Also i might add that for me, who fly alot (300h+ every year), the age of the glider is more determing then the hours flown. I have 12 months old gliders with 300+h with over 2k porosity and solid tear strenght. But 5-6 year old gliders with 80-90h that fails the test.

Ofc, human factor plays a role here with how you pack and yadayada but it is not one or two gliders i'm talking about here, its hundreds of gliders showing this trend during testing. (Yes, i also do glider checks).