The SR20 light aircraft from Cirrus Designs can land safely, even from a full spin, by popping out a built-in emergency parachute. It's the f irst airplane designed to make a parachute landing that has been licensed by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

When the pilot pulls a lever in the cockpit, a rocket shoots out of the rear of the plane, trailing the parachute. To prevent the chute from ripping to shreds if the plane is moving at a high speed, a cloth slider moves down the cables, opening the parachute slowly.

Once the parachute is open, the plane settles to the ground at about 17 miles per hour (27 kph). When it touches down, the landing gear is destroyed, punching up through the wing, but the people in the plane will not be injured.

SR20 light aircraft： SR20型轻型飞机

Cirrus Designs: 一家位于美国明尼苏达州的设计、生产和销售航空器的公司。

a full spin:（飞机的）高速旋冲

pop out: 突然弹出

a built-in emergency parachute：内置的紧急降落伞

chute：parachute 降落伞

rip to shreds： 被撕裂，撕成碎片

landing gear：起落装置