18th and 19th centuries Parachute

louis-sébastien lenormand jumps tower of montpellier observatory, 1783. illustration late 19th century.



first use of frameless parachute, andré garnerin in 1797



schematic depiction of garnerin s parachute, nineteenth century illustration.

the modern parachute invented in late 18th century louis-sébastien lenormand in france, made first recorded public jump in 1783. lenormand sketched device beforehand.

two years later, in 1785, lenormand coined word parachute hybridizing latin prefix para, imperative form of parare = avert, defend, resist, guard, shield or shroud, paro = parry, , chute, french word fall, describe aeronautical device s real function.

also in 1785, jean-pierre blanchard demonstrated means of safely disembarking hot-air balloon. while blanchard s first parachute demonstrations conducted dog passenger, later claimed have had opportunity try himself in 1793 when hot air balloon ruptured , used parachute descend (this event not witnessed others).

subsequent development of parachute focused on becoming more compact. while parachutes made of linen stretched on wooden frame, in late 1790s, blanchard began making parachutes folded silk, taking advantage of silk s strength , light weight. in 1797, andré garnerin made first descent of frameless parachute covered in silk. in 1804 jérôme lalande introduced vent in canopy eliminate violent oscillations.