Leonardo da Vinci sketched a parachute in 1485 as a pyramid-shaped linen canopy supported by wooden poles.
His Codex Atlanticus drawing shows a structure about 7.2 metres high and 7.2 metres wide. Leonardo reasoned that a person could descend safely from a height if the canopy trapped enough air, although he did not record a practical test of the design.
The sketch is often described as an early parachute concept, not the first working parachute. Its rigid pyramid frame differs substantially from modern fabric parachutes, which use flexible canopies, suspension lines and harnesses. In 2000, British skydiver Adrian Nicholas built and tested a replica, reporting that it descended successfully but was too difficult to steer near the ground. He used a modern backup parachute for safety.