TRAJECTORY OF THE PARACHUTE BAG DURING THE DEPLOYMENT PHASE

Abstract

A Sailplane Parachute Recovery System requires an active device such as a rocket or a mortar to deploy the parachute. A computer simulation has been carried out for calculating the trajectory of the parachute bag and the lines during the deployment phase. The thrust of the rocket or the starting impulse of the mortar has to lift the deployment bag clear of the usually T-shaped tail unit of the glider. The calculation shows the effects of the thrust of the rocket, the burning period, the starting impulse of the mortar, the firing direction, the mass of the parachute and the flight velocity on the trajectory relative to the glider. The major consideration is an avoidance of any collision of the bag and the lines with part of the glider during the deployment phase. A more detailed description can be found in a reference.