Leonardo da Vinci sketched a pyramid-shaped parachute in the Codex Atlanticus.
His design used a rigid wooden frame covered with linen, forming a pyramid about seven metres wide and seven metres high. Leonardo wrote that a person could descend safely from a great height with such a structure, provided the fabric was sealed against air.
The sketch dates from around 1485, centuries before practical parachutes were built. It is often described as an early parachute concept rather than a proven working machine. The design differs from modern parachutes, which usually use a flexible canopy and suspension lines.
A 2000 test by British skydiver Adrian Nicholas used a replica made from historically plausible materials. It descended successfully, although Nicholas used a modern parachute for the final landing because the replica was difficult to control near the ground.