Today is the 216th anniversary of the first parachute jump. This daring feat was performed by André-Jacques Garnerin on October 22, 1797 at Parc Monceau in Paris using a seven-metre silk parachute. Although he had a bumpy landing, he emerged unhurt and became the first parachutist. Born on 31 January 1769, Garnerin was an inspector with the French army before becoming a balloonist. He studied under the ballooning pioneer professor Jacques Charles and performed many parachuting trips for exhibitions working mostly with his brother Jean-Baptiste-Olivier Garnerin. Eventually he was appointed Official Aeronaut of France. Garnerin died on 18 August 1823 at a construction site when a beam fell on him while he was building his next balloon.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 10:21:33 +0000
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