What parachute shape did Leonardo da Vinci propose in a 1485 design?

Leonardo da Vinci proposed a pyramidal parachute shape in a design dated to about 1485.

His sketch shows a rigid-looking wooden frame covered with linen, forming a pyramid roughly 7.2 metres wide and 7.2 metres high. The design was intended to let a person descend safely from a height, although Leonardo did not build or test it.

The idea is notable because it uses a broad canopy to create air resistance, the same basic physical principle used by modern parachutes. Leonardo’s design was not a practical modern parachute: its heavy frame and cloth would have made it difficult to control and carry.

A common mix-up is calling this invention a “flying machine.” It was designed for controlled descent, not sustained powered flight. In 2000, British adventurer Adrian Nicholas built and tested a full-scale replica, reporting that it descended successfully before he switched to a modern parachute near the ground.