Parachute

A parachute is a fabric canopy system designed to slow a person’s descent through the atmosphere by creating drag. Parachutes are used for emergency landings, aircraft bailout, sport skydiving, military operations, and space recovery. A typical system includes a canopy, suspension lines, risers, and a harness or seat of the wearer.

Canopies come in various shapes and configurations. Round canopies are older designs that provide stable descents but limited steering. Modern sport parachutes are rectangular or elliptical and often use ram-air cells that inflate with forward air speed to form an airfoil, improving lift and maneuverability. Key components include the canopy, suspension lines, risers, a deployment bag, a pilot chute, and a harness.

Deployment and flight involve releasing a pilot chute to extract the main canopy from its container, followed by inflation of the cells. As the canopy inflates, it generates lift and can be steered using toggles or control lines connected to the risers. A reserve parachute serves as a backup in case of main-system failure. Some systems include automatic activation devices that deploy a reserve at a preset altitude.

History and development span from early parachute concepts to practical usage. Leonardo da Vinci described parachute ideas, and the first successful jump was made by Andrea Garnerin in 1797. In the 20th century, military paratroopers used round canopies, while Domina Jalbert’s ram-air design in the 1960s laid the groundwork for modern sport canopies.

Safety and regulation emphasize training, packing, inspection, and equipment standards. National and international associations provide certification, guidelines for canopy control, and procedures for emergencies. Materials commonly include nylon or polyester fabrics for the canopy and high-strength fibers such as Kevlar or Spectra for lines.