Slider (parachuting)

A slider is a small rectangular piece of fabric with a grommet near each corner used to control the deployment of a "ram-air" parachute.

At high velocities, the opening shock from a rapid deployment can cause damage to the canopy or injury to the jumper.

The slider also deflects some of the rising air column away from the center of the canopy as it inflates.

While testing his prototype in the wind tunnel at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, USA, Theodore realized its drag was stronger than any other parachute he had tested in his 25 years of experience.

To slow the opening of the parafoil, Theodore ran the cords through rings he designed that were slid to the top while packing the parachute.