The Parachute

A parachute opens in the sky to catch the wind. The wind pushes up against it and slows the fall. Parachutes let people jump safely from planes and high places. They are also used to drop supplies to people who need help.

Early Ideas

Leonardo da Vinci drew a parachute over 500 years ago. But the first real parachute jump was in 1797 by a Frenchman named Andre-Jacques Garnerin. He jumped from a hot air balloon. His parachute was made of silk and held him up as he floated down.

Skydivers leaping from a plane with parachutes open.
Skydivers leaping from a plane with parachutes open. (Capt Raymond Geoffroy / Wikimedia Commons)

Parachutes Today

Today parachutes are used by soldiers, pilots, and skydivers. Most are made of strong nylon cloth. Some are round and others are shaped like wings. Winged parachutes let skydivers steer through the air like a glider.

Fun Facts

  • Early parachutes were sometimes tested using dummies.
  • A skydiver falls about 120 miles per hour before opening the parachute.
  • Some seeds use tiny natural parachutes to float in the wind.

Did You Know?

The word parachute comes from French words that mean to guard against a fall.