DRAG CHARACTERISTICS AND DYNAMIC STABILITY IN DESCENT OF A ROTARY PARACHUTE TESTED IN A VERTICAL TUNNEL

An investigation was conducted in the Langley 20-foot free-spinning tunnel at low speeds to determine the drag characteristics and dynamic stability in descent of a 64-inch-diameter rotary parachute. The drag coefficient of the basic rotary parachute was approximately 1.7 based on
total cloth area_ cutting cloth away from the tips of the parachute permitted it to rotate faster and gave a somewhat higher drag coefficient of about 2.1. In general, the rotary parachute was extremely stable in descent, with oscillations of probably less than 1°. Small changes in
rigging had no appreciable effect on the performance of the parachute.

Accompanying zip folder contains video of the experimental process completed for this document and the related records for the Experimental aerodynamic performance characteristics of a rotor entry vehicle configuration. 1-3.