US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

"Gee, I just can't wait to pop this thing open at 17,000 mph during re-entry!"

I'd love to see an animated version of such a flex wing "deployment". There's got to be some interesting mechanics going on.

There's got to be some interesting mechanics going on.

Yeah. It's called structural failure.

RickMasters wrote:

There's got to be some interesting mechanics going on.

Yeah. It's called structural failure.

Ahhhh, does that mean no one ever figured out how to deploy a Rogallo wing meant for re-entry?

NASA was looking at at least three methods for re-entry in the early 1960s: parachutes, Rogallo wings and a plywood "flying bathtub" called the Dyna-soar. The Dyna-soar eventually morphed into the Space Shuttle, the Rogallo was tossed aside, and parachutes still perform well, both on Earth and Mars.

I don't think any of the NASA pilots really liked the Rogallo, not that I know much, but I do know Gus Grissom had a hard landing in one and broke the nose wheel. Another pilot testing a Mercury capsule mock-up released from a helicopter tow, got locked into a spiral and jumped out. He injured his ribs in the parachute landing, I think, but the capsule hit the dry lake bed at a shallow angle and wasn't damaged too much. All these control problems and they never even got to trying a Rogallo for re-entry. They would have had to slow the capsule down with a parachute first, anyway. Probably too much added risk when they knew that the parachute would work all the way down, anyway. It was just a bad idea that looked interesting at first.

See http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/pdf/ ... H-2216.pdf

355. Horton, V. W.: Manned Paraglider Flight Tests.
Presented to Meeting on Space Vehicle Landing and
Recovery Research and Technology, (see N73-70937 04-99),
July 11, 1962, 73N70944.

371. Layton, G. P., Jr.; and Thompson, M. O.: Preliminary Flight Evaluation of Two Unpowered Manned Paragliders.
NASA TN D-1826, April 1963, 63N14429, #.
Towed and free-flight tests were made with unpowered, manned paragliders to study the performance, stability, and control characteristics of a typical paraglider. The paragliders used had maximum lift-drag ratios greater than 3.5 and wing loadings of approximately 4.0 lb/sq ft. The airspeed range was limited by the rearward center-of-pressure shift at angles of attack above and below trim angle of attack. Performance data obtained from flight tests are presented and compared with analytical results. Center-of-gravity shift, accomplished by tilting the wing relative to the fuselage, was used for control. This method of control was adequate for towed and free flight as well as for flare and landing. The pilot’s evaluation of the vehicle’s handling qualities, and a discussion of development problems are presented.
-----------------------------
Also most interesting

LOW-SUBSONIC WIND-TUNNEL AND FREE-FLIGHT DROP-TEST INVESTIGATION OF A PARAGLIDER CONFIGURATION HAVING LARGE TAPERED LEADING EDGES AND KEEL
by Delwin R. Croom und Pazll G. Fozlrnier
Langey Research Center
Langley Station, Hampton, Va.
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, D. C. OCTOBER 1966
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi. ... 028846.pdf

Rick,

I found this yesterday -



NASA test footage of an inflatable Rogallo wing. They called it a paraglider! And while it WAS inflatable, it wasn't meant to deflate after "deployment" - as is the current version of paraglider.

"The End" is right. Looks like about 25 mph wind speed - a far cry from supersonic. I can imagine, behind those windows, the local USPA chapter having a kegger with the NASA guys, and all laughing their heads off, while the astronauts are muttering curses and lining up outside with their letters of resignation.

RickMasters wrote:"The End" is right. Looks like about 25 mph wind speed - a far cry from supersonic. I can imagine, behind those windows, the local USPA chapter having a kegger with the NASA guys, and all laughing their heads off, while the astronauts are muttering curses and lining up outside with their letters of resignation.

Oddly enough, one of the lead in titles call it a "Transonic" wind tunnel. But in more than one scene there's a person standing in front of the test rig IN the wind tunnel.

I guess the tunnel had the ability to blow BIG wind, or to blow lower subsonic wind.

In viewing, I did wonder, if it was deployed before reaching the atmosphere, could it be made to withstand re-entry temps? Not likely, I'd presume.

Well, the general design concept worked out well for us at least!