Geometry adaptable supported parafoil

Abstract

An exemplary inventive parafoil includes a soft wing and a semi-rigid skeleton. Configured to effect ram-air flight, the soft wing forms adjacent elongate cells directed from leading edge to trailing edge, with respective inflow vents arranged along the leading edge. The semi-rigid skeleton includes one or more cell-compatible support structures, each joined with a cell in furtherance of maintaining the cell's inflated shape and preventing its collapse under adverse aerodynamic circumstances. Each cell-compatible support structure includes a ring-like frame and two parallel rod-like projections attached perpendicular to the ring-like frame at laterally opposite locations. According to each coupling of a cell-compatible support structure with a cell, the ring-like frame is affixed at or near the cell's inflow vent, fitting onto or inside the cell lip; the two rod-like projections extend backward from the ring-like frame along part of the cell length, each integrated with or interiorly contiguous to the cell.