What name is commonly given to Leonardo da Vinci’s pyramid-shaped flying device designed as a parachute?

Leonardo da Vinci’s pyramid-shaped parachute is the name commonly given to his parachute design.

Leonardo sketched the device in the Codex Atlanticus around 1485. His drawing shows a rigid, pyramid-shaped wooden frame covered with cloth. He proposed that a person could descend safely from a height using the structure, although he did not build or test it.

The design is often discussed as an early parachute concept rather than a modern parachute. Its shape and open framework differ greatly from the flexible, fabric canopies used today. The idea also belongs to Leonardo’s broader study of air resistance, falling bodies, and human flight.

In 2000, British skydiver Adrian Nicholas built and tested a full-scale replica. The successful demonstration showed that the design could produce a controlled descent, though modern parachutes are much lighter and more practical.