PARAPAT.

XLS

(EXCEL 97 spreadsheet)

Parachute Gore Pattern Maker

Note: Contents of this spreadsheet are password protected to maintain the integrity of the original file.

Introduction
This speadsheet may be used to create a flat pattern of a parachute panel or gore.
A number of gores, when assembled, forms the parachute canopy.
The type of parachute canopy which is formed by the assembled gores is in the
shape of a semi-ellipsoid, which is geometrically similar to a flattened hemisphere,
with a minor/major axis ratio of 0.707, as represented by the plane figure of the
canopy, below:

A semi-ellipsoidal parachute is more efficient than a hemispherical one, producing

greater drag force for a given canopy surface area.
The user inputs the parachute base diameter and the number of gores desired.
A table of x,y co-ordinates that define the gore shape is created.
A plot, which may be resized to suit, is generated in the outline of a single gore.
Full details on parachute construction may be found at the author's website:
http://members.aol.com/ricnakk/index.html

Version 1.00 (1-00)

by R.A.Nakka
For free distribution

Version 1.00 (1-00)

by R.A.Nakka
For free distribution

COORDINATES

Pattern calculator for Parachute Gore Panels

Enter parachute data:

Diameter =
100 centimetres
Number of gores =
12 (4 minimum)

Parachute Panel Basic Coordinates

100 cm. Diameter, 12 Gore (reference)
x
y
x
y
26.18
0.00
0.00
0.00
26.15
2.50
0.03
2.50
26.05
4.99
0.13
4.99
25.89
7.47
0.29
7.47
25.67
9.93
0.51
9.93
25.40
12.37
0.78
12.37
25.08
14.78
1.10
14.78
24.72
17.17
1.46
17.17
24.32
19.51
1.86
19.51
23.90
21.82
2.28
21.82
23.45
24.10
2.73
24.10
22.98
26.33
3.20
26.33
22.50
28.53
3.68
28.53
22.01
30.69
4.17
30.69
21.51
32.81
4.67
32.81
21.00
34.89
5.18
34.89
20.50
36.94
5.68
36.94
20.00
38.95
6.18
38.95
19.50
40.94
6.68
40.94
19.00
42.89
7.18
42.89
18.50
44.82
7.68
44.82
18.01
46.72
8.17
46.72
17.52
48.60
8.66
48.60
17.04
50.45
9.14
50.45
16.56
52.29
9.62
52.29
16.08
54.11
10.10
54.11
15.61
55.92
10.57
55.92
15.14
57.71
11.04
57.71
14.67
59.50
11.51
59.50
14.21
61.28
11.97
61.28
13.75
63.05
12.43
63.05
13.28
64.82
12.90
64.82

Parachute Panel Scaled Coordinates

100 cm. diameter
x
y
x
26.18
0.00
0.00
26.15
2.50
0.03
26.05
4.99
0.13
25.89
7.47
0.29
25.67
9.93
0.51
25.40
12.37
0.78
25.08
14.78
1.10
24.72
17.17
1.46
24.32
19.51
1.86
23.90
21.82
2.28
23.45
24.10
2.73
22.98
26.33
3.20
22.50
28.53
3.68
22.01
30.69
4.17
21.51
32.81
4.67
21.00
34.89
5.18
20.50
36.94
5.68
20.00
38.95
6.18
19.50
40.94
6.68
19.00
42.89
7.18
18.50
44.82
7.68
18.01
46.72
8.17
17.52
48.60
8.66
17.04
50.45
9.14
16.56
52.29
9.62
16.08
54.11
10.10
15.61
55.92
10.57
15.14
57.71
11.04
14.67
59.50
11.51
14.21
61.28
11.97
13.75
63.05
12.43
13.28
64.82
12.90

Created by R.A.Nakka, March 1998 v1.0

Page 3

COORDINATES

centimetres
(4 minimum)

Scaled Coordinates
cm. diameter
y
0.00
2.50
4.99
7.47
9.93
12.37
14.78
17.17
19.51
21.82
24.10
26.33
28.53
30.69
32.81
34.89
36.94
38.95
40.94
42.89
44.82
46.72
48.60
50.45
52.29
54.11
55.92
57.71
59.50
61.28
63.05
64.82

Page 4

PATTERN FIGURE

Note: Pattern plot may be resized as desired

Parachute panel pattern

Important: Add 2 cm. along sides and bottom of panel for hem

70

60

50

Y cm

40

30

20

10

0
0

10

20

30

X cm

Page 5