Expert: Alex Busby - 11/16/2008

Question
what came befroe the first parachute?

Answer
Hi Adam, well you've got me there as I don't really know what we had before parachutes....nothing I suppose! There were some very early designs here http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/ss/Parachute.htm but before this I guess it was balloons that were the only method of getting off the ground. From what I can gather it would have also been a balloon that was the first mode of transport for the first parachutist.

Before parachutes people didn't jump at all so no other form of parachuting or skydiving would have taken place.

Hope this makes some sort of sense and helps in some way

Andy