Leonardo’s famous parachute design exists as a single sketch and a short description on a page filled with other ideas. It appears fully formed, as if it could be built and used just as he has drawn it. In fact, several modern parachutists have built and flown replicas! Leonardo had clearly thought a lot about how to build it. But it wasn’t until the invention of balloons, two and a half centuries later, that a parachute could be truly tested in flight.
1 Fold the four sides of the parachute canopy. Glue Side (1) to the tab on the side of Side (2).
2 Glue the corners together. Make sure they are at a right angle!
3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the Sides (3) and (4).
4 Glue Pilot Parts (6) and (7) to either side of Pilot Part (5).
5 Glue two Cable Parts to each side of the Pilot. Use this template to find the right angle.
6 Glue one Cable Part just inside each corner of the Canopy as shown. You will need to bend or fold the Cables slightly where they meet the Pilot and Canopy.
7 Glue the remaining Pilot Parts (8) and (9) on either side of the pilot figure. Make sure the illustration is facing out.
