Leonardo da Vinci sketched a parachute as a cone-shaped canopy intended to let a person descend safely from the air.
His drawing appears in the Codex Atlanticus and is generally dated to the late fifteenth century. Leonardo described a pyramid-shaped linen structure supported by poles, with the canopy designed to create air resistance during a descent. The idea was theoretical: there is no evidence that Leonardo tested it or built a working parachute.
Leonardo’s design is often connected with the later history of parachuting because it demonstrates an early attempt to reason about controlled descent using a fabric canopy. It should not be confused with his aerial screw, which was an idea for rising through the air rather than falling safely through it.
In 2000, Adrian Nichols built and tested a modern interpretation of Leonardo’s design. The reconstruction reportedly worked, although it was released from a hot-air balloon and opened into a more controllable modern setup. Leonardo’s original concept remains a landmark in the history of parachute ideas.