What escape device did Leonardo da Vinci sketch in 1485 for a person jumping from a height?

Leonardo da Vinci sketched a pyramidal parachute in 1485 for a person jumping from a height.

His design appears in the Codex Atlanticus and consists of a rigid pyramid-shaped wooden frame covered with linen. Leonardo proposed that the canopy would slow a falling person by producing air resistance. The concept predates the parachute experiments of later inventors by several centuries.

There is no evidence that Leonardo tested the device. Its shape and heavy frame also raise practical questions about safe deployment and landing. In 2000, British adventurer Adrian Nicholas constructed and tested a full-size version based on Leonardo’s dimensions. The replica descended successfully, although Nicholas used a modern parachute for the final landing because of safety concerns.

Leonardo’s design is often described as the first recorded parachute concept. It is distinct from modern fabric parachutes, which generally use flexible canopies and suspension lines rather than a rigid pyramid.