Patent ID: 6145788
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: B64D

Abstract:
A drogue assembly for in-flight refueling including a drogue parachute comprising an annular strip of sheet material having leading and trailing circumferentially continuous edges, and means for towing the drogue parachute in flight so that it is extended with the leading edge encircling an area larger than an area encircled by the trailing edge when the drogue parachute is fully extended, whereby the material presents a certain effective area to air through which it is being towed, the towing means being connected to and substantially uniformly around the leading edge a notional line, lying in a radial plane of the drogue parachute and passing through the leading and trailing edges, making a certain chord angle with the direction of flight, wherein resilient biasing means are provided to act on and substantially uniformly around the material and in opposition to air pressure loading on the material in flight so as to tend to increase said chord angle such that the effective area of the drogue parachute in flight is varied automatically above a certain predetermined minimum which depends upon the dimensions of the trailing edge so that the effective area is reduced as air speed is increased and vice versa, said resilient biasing means being incorporate din the drogue parachute.