Parks College Parachute Research Group
Parachute Design/Technical References and Sources
AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technical Committee references
Heinrich Parachute Systems Technology Short Course
Every other year (or so) this parachute design course is offered by the
AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Technical Committee to professional engineers.
It is mostly about round parachutes but there is information about ram-air parachutes as well.
See the course information page at the AIAA ADS Technical Committee
web site for more informaton.
Ram-Air Parachute Design by Dr. J. Stephen Lingard
1996, 63 pages, available as PDF only
Published by the ADS Technical Committee, this document is a reprint of the
material presented by Dr. Steve Lingard, Chief Systems Engineer at
Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd., at the AIAA Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems
Technology Seminar in May, 1995. Dr. Lingard, an acknowledged authority on
ram-air parachute design, offers a broad overview of parafoil technology.
This reference document offers detailed coverage of flight performance,
longitudinal dynamic motion, lateral dynamics, inflation management and
loads prediction, and includes a detailed design example.
This document can be found on the
Document Archive page
at the AIAA ADS Technical Committee
web site.
Military references
Recovery Systems Design Guide
AFFDL-TR-78-151
This handbook is a comprehensive guide to the practicing engineer in the
field of recovery system design, construction and testing.
This handbook was prepared by Irvin Industries Inc, California Division
under Air Force Contract Number F33615-75-C-3081. The principal authors
were Mr. E.G.Ewing, Mr. H.W.Bixby and Mr. T.W.Knacke.
This document can be found on the
Technical Papers page
at the Irvin Aerospace
web site.
Para Publishing references
The following references are available at Para Publishing (Dan Poynter),
which also sells older "hard-to-find" research reports.
Web site: www.parapublishing.com
Email: info@parapublishing.com
Email:DanPoynter@parapublishing.com
Phone: (805) 968-7277
Phone: (800) PARAPUB (order Line in North America)
Fax: (805) 968-1379
Postal address:
Para Publishing
PO Box 8206-240
Santa Barbara, CA 93118-8206
USA
Street Address:
Para Publishing
530 Ellwood Ridge
Santa Barbara, CA 93117-1047
USA
The Parachute Manual, Volume I, by Dan Poynter.
Covers all parachutes through 1984 plus historical information, "round"
canopies and US military parachutes.
Volume I, third edition, completely revised, soft cover, 8.5 x 11 Kivar
cover, 592 pages, 2,200 photos and drawings, more than 17,000 in print. ISBN
978-0-915516-35-3. $49.95
The Parachute Manual, Volume II, by Dan Poynter.
Covers all parachute
since 1985 plus more on "square" ram-air canopies, sport piggyback
harness/container systems, new materials and construction techniques.
Volume II, fourth edition, completely revised, soft cover, 8.5 x 11 Kivar
cover, 416 pages, 821 photos and drawings, more than 7,000 in print. ISBN
978-0-915516-80-3. $49.95
The Parachute Recovery Systems Design Manual by T.W. Knacke
Provides the tools to evaluate, select, design, test, manufacture, and
operate parachute recovery systems. These systems range from simple,
one-parachute assemblies to multiple-parachute systems, and include
equipment for impact attenuation, flotation, location, retrieval, and
disposition. All system aspects are discussed, including the selection of
the most suitable recovery system concept, a computerized approach to
parachute performance, force and stress analysis, geometric gore design,
component layout, material selection, system design, manufacturing, and
in-service maintenance. This is the last word in technical design manuals
for recovery systems. Theo Knacke is the parachute engineer's engineer. He
is the ultimate authority on escape systems, landing deceleration canopies,
aerial delivery clusters, personnel parachutes and spacecraft recovery
systems. The manual was written for the US Navy and is published by Para
Publishing under contract.
Knacke manual. Softcover 8.5 x 11 Kivar cover, 512 pages, 280 illustration,
78 tables. ISBN 978-0-915516-85-8. $49.95
Basic Performance, Design, and Construction of Ram-Air-Inflated Gliding
Parachute Wings by Manley C. Butler, Jr.
Describes ram-air canopies with their opening characteristics and flight controls.
General guidelines for design and construction are presented.
April 1986, 46 pages, 8.5 x 11, NWC TM 5739.
PR-407 Basic Performance Ram-Air $14.95
