I suppose creating an artificial "spiderweb" type of material will be much lighter than carying a parachute/glider. So if I can get enough out in time, I can make better, lighter parachutes / gliders.

See links.
-- pashute, Oct 21 2007

giant spiderweb found http://www.scienced...09/070912145919.htm
also shows ballooning (If you didn't read it in Wilbur when you were a kid) [pashute, Oct 21 2007]

google gives many results for artificial spider webs http://www.google.c...artifical+spiderweb
Not that expensive either. [pashute, Oct 21 2007]

http://www.cartoons...lowres/dpan672l.jpg [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Oct 21 2007]

Great idea. You just know that it'll happen someday, but it was thought up years ago.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Oct 21 2007


The cartoon shows an idea that wouldn't work. I'm serious about this idea, and it of course will not look at all like a single web. The idea is to have a "cloud like" canopy, emitted from a cansister.
-- pashute, Oct 22 2007


Methinks your cannister will be as large and carry enough substance under pressure (or more) as an equivalent hydrogen/helium cannister and balloon, and of course, let us not forget tensile strength. It is probably easy to eject enough surface area to slow you down *but* you have to remain tethered, else there is not much point. Any chain is as strong as its weakest link.
-- 4whom, Oct 22 2007



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