Aerodynamic Characteristics of the Parafoil Glider and Other Gliding Parachutes

摘要

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.