Fluid Flow
Fluid Flow Index

Parachute Flight Test


High performance parachutes undergo an extremely rapid deceleration after deployment. Typically the speed will drop from roughly 600mph to 50mph in only about 4 seconds. The flow behind the canopy sometimes overtakes the decelerating parachute and causes it to collapse. This is known as a wake recontact phenomenon and the dramatic results can be seen in the two adjoining film clips.

Basic research on bluff-body aerodynamics related to this phenomenon is being conducted at Syracuse Universty.

Successful Opening Canopy Collapse

Video courtesey of Sandia National Laboratories


Back to Virtual Aerospace Visualization Laboratory


This project was developed at Syracuse University under direction of Dr. Hiroshi Higuchi hhiguchi@mailbox.syr.edu. Current work is being conducted by Garth Henning gahennin@mailbox.syr.edu

Aircraft Maneuvers


Here we have a few demonstrations of different maneuvers that can be readily identified. Each of these movies was taken from inside of a small aircraft to demonstrate various aspects of aircraft dynamics.

  • Stall...
  • Spin...
  • Longitudinal Oscillation...
  • Lateral Oscillation...

Virtual Aerospace Visualization Laboratory


This project was developed at Syracuse University under direction of Dr. Hiroshi Higuchi hhiguchi@mailbox.syr.edu. Current work is being conducted by Garth Henning gahennin@mailbox.syr.edu
Introduction Index Laboratory Tour Fluid Param. Sports Aero. Low Speed Aero. Super Sonic Flow Quiz Visualization Lab. External link Glossary