A parachute is a rectangular or umbrella-shaped apparatus that allows a person or load attached to it to descend slowly from a height, especially from a balloon or aeroplane. The first human parachute descent was made in 1797, when Jacques Garnerin parachuted from a balloon over Paris. Folding parachutes were first used in America in 1880, and towards the end of the Great War aviators first used parachutes to escape from their aeroplanes. Early parachutes were made of canvas, and later silk. Modern parachutes comprise many separate panels of nylon, so that tears are confined to a small area. Until recently parachutes were umbrella-shaped, but parafoils (air-filled aerofoils) are now common. In addition to their use as safety devices, parachutes are used for sport, for aerial drops of supplies and equipment, and as braking devices (drogues) for landing aircraft or other vehicles. Research Parachute
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
SciTech
Research Parachute
