How to Build a Model Parachute

A Simple Model Parachute

• 1

  Find the material that will form your canopy. A cloth bandana or similarly-sized piece of fabric works well. It should measure about 20 inches by 20 inches. The canopy forms a dome of high-pressure air underneath it as the entire parachute assembly falls, which gives the parachute its drag and slows the descent of the falling object.

• 2

  Produce the cords that will attach the canopy to the object being carried. Cut four pieces of string about 18 inches long. The important thing is that all four cords are precisely the same length. If the cords are uneven after assembly, the canopy may spill its air or even fold over, resulting in a plummeting drop, not a steady descent.

• 3

  Tape one string cord to each of the canopy's four corners, once again being careful not to shorten or lengthen the cords. Thread the opposite end of each string through a separate hole in the button and tie them together on the other side, taking care not to tangle them on the canopy side of the button. After you have completed this step, you should have a basic parachute, with the button at the bottom and the cords forming an even, upside-down pyramid sloping to the four corners of the canopy.

• 4

  Load your object by attaching it to the button. A small plastic animal, action figure, ball or similarly sized object will work. The weight of the object must be in proportion to the size of the parachute, because the size of the canopy dictates how much drag it can produce. Use too big an object for the parachute, and it will fall too fast. Use an object too small, and it will not pull steadily on the cords to keep the canopy open.

• 5

  Experiment with loads and canopies. Try different sizes and weights of objects. Try different materials for a canopy -- silk, plastic or nylon will work. Different shapes of canopies are possible, such as a round piece of fabric attached to the load with eight equally-spaced cords.