Leonardo da Vinci sketched a pyramid-shaped parachute in the late 15th century.
His drawing shows a large linen canopy held open by a wooden framework. Leonardo wrote that a person could jump from a great height while protected by a structure about 12 braccia wide and 12 braccia deep. The design depended on air resistance beneath the canopy to slow a fall.
It was a theoretical invention rather than a documented working device. The rigid frame also made it unlike the flexible parachutes used today. In 2000, British adventurer Adrian Nicholas built and tested a modernized version based on Leonardo’s design; it descended successfully, although he changed to a conventional parachute near the ground for safety.
The concept is important because it applies a clear aerodynamic principle: increasing surface area increases drag. Leonardo did not invent the modern parachute system, but his notebook design is among the earliest detailed European parachute concepts.