Figure 2-4. Gliding and climbing pitch angles.  Figure 2-5. Planform view of a PPC inflated wing:  rectangular and elliptical. Note: Chapter 7, Takeoffs and Departure Climbs, will  detail the methods of getting the uninflated canopy  laying on the ground turned into a flying wing. Since  the aerodynamics of the PPC do not start until the  wing is completely inflated, this chapter will assume  each reference to the PPC wing is to an inflated ram- air wing already in the shape of an airfoil. Wing loading is a term associated with the total  weight the ram-air wing must support. Wing loading  is found by dividing the total weight of the aircraft, in  pounds, by the total area of the wing, in square feet.  Wing loading is found by dividing the weight of the  aircraft, in pounds, by the total area of the wing, in  square feet. For example, the wing loading would be  2.0 pounds per square foot when 1,000 pounds—a  common weight for a two-seat PPC with two people  — is under a 500-square foot wing. If flying with one  person the aircraft weight might be 700 pounds and  the wing loading would decrease to 1.4 pounds per  square foot. The powered parachute ram-air wing retains its air- foil shape due to the air pressurizing the inside cells  via the relative wind airflow being rammed into the  front openings of the canopy —thus the term “ram-air  wing.” The pressure inside the wing is much higher  than the outside top and bottom because the dynamic  pressure from the relative wind is converted to static  pressure to pressurize the wing. The greater the speed,  the greater the pressure inside the wing and the more  rigid the wing. The cell openings are designed to be  perpendicular to the relative wind to achieve maxi- mum pressure from the relative wind. This static in- ternal pressure harnessed from the relative wind is  called dynamic pressure (q), and is determined by the  velocity squared times the air density factor. [Figure  2-7] Note the dynamic air pressure converted to static  pressure at point A is constant throughout the wing  points B and C. This static pressure is always greater  than the pressure outside the wing at points X and Z. Gliding flight  is flying in a descent with the engine at  idle or shut off. The powered parachute has two distinctive modes: (1)  inflated, it is a  ram-air wing with a curved arc—a rec- ognizable airfoil shape; and (2) deflated, it is a  canopy  that is either lying flat on the ground or packed into  a bag. Cross-port openings are placed in the ribs of each cell,  connecting the adjoining cells. These cross-ports are  dispersed throughout the wing (with exception to the  outboard side of the end cells) to maintain positive  pressure throughout. The pressure is constant inside  Powered Parachute Wing Pressurization and Flexibility 2-3