Definition
A non-rigid, ram-air inflated wing made of fabric, shaped into a series of cells that fill with air through openings along the leading edge. The inflated cells form an airfoil shape that generates lift and allows the parafoil to glide and be steered, rather than simply descending vertically like a round parachute.
Plain English
A fabric wing with no rigid frame. Air rushes into open cells at the front, inflating it into a wing shape so it flies and can be steered, instead of just falling straight down.
Context Anchor
Seen in parachute operations, powered parachutes, emergency recovery systems, and discussions of steerable parachute canopies.
Derivation
From 'para-' (as in parachute, meaning to guard against or shield from a fall) combined with 'foil' (short for airfoil, a shape that produces lift in moving air). The name captures the idea: a parachute that behaves like a wing.
Why Pilots Care
Provides precise steering and a slower, more predictable descent than a conventional round parachute, improving safety margins during emergencies or recreational flight.
Intuition Check
Do not picture only a round parachute that drops almost straight down. A parafoil is inflated into a wing shape, so it can glide and be steered.
Example Sentence 1
After deploying the parafoil, the skydiver steered toward the landing zone using the control toggles.
Example Sentence 2
The student practiced inflating the parafoil on the ground before attempting the first launch.