Leonardo da Vinci’s parachute concept used a large fabric canopy to slow a person’s fall.
In a manuscript drawing, Leonardo proposed a pyramidal canopy supported by a wooden frame. He reasoned that a person could descend safely from a height if the structure had enough surface area to resist the air. The design is usually dated to around 1485 and is associated with the Codex Atlanticus.
Leonardo did not test the parachute, and it was not a practical modern parachute. Its rigid frame and pyramid shape differ from the flexible, deployable canopies used today. In 2000, British adventurer Adrian Nicholas tested a full-scale interpretation and reported a successful descent.
The concept is sometimes described as the first parachute design, but earlier cultures had legends and experiments involving umbrellas or jumping devices. Leonardo’s drawing is notable for its clear engineering explanation.