Leonardo da Vinci’s pyramid-shaped linen canopy was an early parachute concept.
In the Codex Atlanticus, Leonardo described a canopy intended to let a person descend safely from a height. His notes specify a pyramid-shaped structure covered with linen and supported by poles. The design reflects his attempt to reason about air resistance and controlled descent rather than powered flight.
Leonardo did not document a completed test of this parachute, so it should not be described as the first proven parachute. Modern parachutes use flexible fabric canopies, suspension lines, and steering systems, while Leonardo’s proposed structure was rigidly supported and much heavier than modern equipment.
The design became famous because its dimensions suggest a practical scale for a human passenger. In 2000, British skydiver Adrian Nicholas tested a reconstruction made from materials close to Leonardo’s description and reported a successful descent, although he landed using a modern parachute for safety. The experiment demonstrated historical plausibility, not Renaissance flight.