Construction of Single Sheet Steerable Airfoil

[Jeffmhopkins]

Here you can see the inflation a little better

 

[Jeffmhopkins]

Was able to get it in the air at the beach, I will adjust the rear center cell bridling, but overall pretty happy. Looks like 15-20mph wind penetration.

 

[tab28682]

Back in the early 1960s, the Paracommander made a big splash because it had an L/D of about 1.16/1. Previous best for roundish modified chutes was more like .7/1. The diagrams at this page show how the single surface Paracommander generated forward speed, lift and control.

https://www.parachutehistory.com/round/pc.html

While not as good as a parafoil, a glide ratio of more than 1 is handy to have/nothing to sneer at with a chute. You could cover more than 2000 feet horizontally from 2000 feet AGL. As long as the wind speed is equal to or less than your decent rate, you can stay over one point on the ground, or make headway over the ground against the wind.

Ought to be some useful approaches to non hemi single sheet canopies that get you some similar effects, Like the Rogallo type para wing chutes mentioned.

Here is an interesting single surface gliding chute that is up around 2 or 2.5/1 L/D.

https://www.parachutehistory.com/other/sailwing.html

 

[Jeffmhopkins]

That sailwing is an interesting design, I'll see if I can't find the patent on that to look more closely...

https://www.google.com/patents/US35...ved=0ahUKEwi1xuy1ve3JAhXI0iYKHdmRBXkQ6AEIGzAA

 

[Jeffmhopkins]

[video=youtube;OWsE7DyHqCY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWsE7DyHqCY[/video]

Did some more bridle adjustments on the design. It was a little twitchy still, but I made further changes in the design to make it more smooth.

Short control lines don't help either.

All movements (including back stall land) was purposeful.