Who Invented The Parachute

A parachute is a device for slowing one's descent while falling to the ground. The idea of a parachute was a sketch by da Vinci. Da Vinci's drawing was the inspiration for others. From this sketch the idea for a parachute came about. His drawings was a sort of an early blueprint.

Who actually invented the first parachute? Though there have been numerous arguments down the ages. The paracute in reality was invented by a Frenchman. In 1793 Jean Pierre Blanchard, was probably the first person to actually use a parachute. He did this by putting a dog in a basket. To which a parachute was attached from a ballon high up in the air. The dog and the parachute landed safely to the ground.

He was also the first one to invent the foldable parachute. It was made of silk light in weight and reusable. Prior to that parachutes were made of rigid frames. These frames came crashing down on the parachutist. Rendering it inoperable and causing injury to the user. Theirs were nothing but crude devices.

It is good that Jean Pierre Blanchard invented the parachute. Today it is used in military warfare. The two world wars are a testimony to it's usefulness. Troops can be parachuted into enemy territory. Where intelligence gathering can be carried out. Sabotage operations by the airborne troops can be conducted. No army in the world today can do without it. An indespensible device in modern warfare. It can also save the lives of fighter jet pilots.

Part of this information was from the Wikipedia. Part from my recollection from the books that i had read. Particularly from books about the first and second world wars. The Vietnam war and the Arab Israeli conflicts.