Refers to a round rather than rectangular device used by
paraglider pilots to
desend safely when then existing rectangular wing, and therefore steerable wing, has been compromised to the degree that death or serious injury is
eminent.
If a
paraglider pilot determines that existing wing is unflyable they must throw a reserve parachute to arrest their descent or risk death or injury. One drawback, parachutes are unsteerable, if you happen to be flying over a
Redwood forest, or some 500,000 volt power lines, Mt Everest, you can imagine the
sinking feeling?...