AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PARAFOIL GLIDER AND OTHER GLIDING PARACHUTES

Abstract

A newly conceived gliding parachute, called the parafoil glider, and several existing glide parachutes have been examined with regard to their general stability, resulting stable angle of attack, and lift to drag ratio. The parafoil glider assumed stable angles of attack up to 50 degrees against the vertical which represents a lift to drag ratio of approximately 1.2. The investigated existing parachutes had lift to drag ratios of less than unity. The tangential force coefficient of the parafoil glider amounts to approximately 1.5 at the position of the stable angle of attack.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0600861

Entities

People

  • H. G. Heinrich
  • Harvey Lippa
  • Thomas Nietz

Organizations

  • University of Minnesota

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Aerodynamic Forces
  • Air Force
  • Coefficients
  • Drop Tests
  • Dynamics
  • Engineering
  • Leading Edges
  • Minnesota
  • Model Tests
  • Parachute Canopies
  • Parachutes
  • Parafoils
  • Reynolds Number
  • Subsonic Wind Tunnels
  • Wind Tunnel Tests
  • Wind Tunnels

Readers

  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy