|
The MegaFly, developed by Para-Flite to meet these requirements
was first tested in October 2006, demonstrating the delivery
of 25,000 pound (11.3 ton) cargo from an altitude of 25,000
feet. The system uses a 9,000 square foot, fully elliptical,
gliding parachute, with a 170 feet span, approximately 20 feet
less than the wingspan of a Boeing 747. It can fly autonomously
via GPS guidance for distances up to 40 kilometers to a designated
point on the ground. The MegaFly is composed of five modular
segments which can be separated after the drop to facilitate
recovery on the drop zone. In most wind conditions, the Para-Flite
JPADS systems can land on a roadway 200 meters long by 40 meters
wide. This equates to a 75% reduction in Landing Zone required
area when compared to Circular Error Probable (CEP). This type
of landing strategy also increases the total number of suitable
Landing Zones and decreases recovery time.
|
