What did Leonardo da Vinci design in 1485 that is often called the first modern parachute?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a pyramidal parachute in 1485, making it one of the earliest recorded parachute concepts.

His sketch shows a canopy made from linen stretched over a rigid wooden pyramid-like frame. Leonardo proposed that a person could jump from a great height while the structure slowed the descent by resisting air.

The design was theoretical and was not tested during Leonardo’s lifetime. Modern parachutes use flexible canopies and suspension lines, so Leonardo’s version should not be confused with a practical modern parachute. In 2000, British adventurer Adrian Nichols tested a replica and reported that it worked, although he used a modern parachute for safety during the landing.