Leonardo da Vinci sketched a pyramidal parachute in the Codex Atlanticus.
His design used a rigid wooden frame covered with linen. Leonardo wrote that a person could jump from a great height while protected by the structure, although no evidence shows that he built or tested it. The sketch is one of several studies in which he explored controlled human flight.
Leonardo’s parachute was not the modern round parachute. Its square-based pyramid shape and open framework reflected Renaissance construction methods. In 2000, British adventurer Adrian Nichols built a full-scale replica and tested it; it worked, although he detached from it at low altitude because of concerns about landing safely. The design is therefore best described as an early parachute concept rather than a proven working machine. Leonardo’s notes also show that he understood the importance of drag: the canopy would resist falling by pushing against the air.