drag parachute

plural drag parachutes · alternative drag chute

1. aeronauticsA parachute deployed behind an aircraft, space shuttle, or motor vehicle as a braking device.

   The jet dragster has been clocked at 232.24 miles per hour. . . . The car is stopped by a drag parachute.

   1962 July 27, “Jet-Powered Dragster”, in Spokane Daily Chronicle, retrieved 13 Nov 2015, page 12

   2 more examples

   As planned, within seconds of touching down, the space craft released a 40-foot-wide drag parachute to help slow it down.

   1992 May 17, “Shuttle Uses Parachute to Chalk Up Another First”, in New York Times, retrieved 13 Nov 2015

   The aircraft is designed to use a drag parachute as a brake, but Mr Prothero didn't have time to deploy it.

   2009 September 8, “Retired RAF pilot saves bomber from air show disaster”, in Telegraph, UK, retrieved 13 Nov 2015

   Synonyms: parabrake