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                          THE FIRST PARACHUTE                                
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The first parachute descent by an aeronaut was made in Paris in the year 1797
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by A.J.Garnerin, who was released from a balloon at the height of 700 meter. 
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Garnerin rode in a gondola fixed to the lines of the 7 meter diameter para-  
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chute, which was supported by a rigid pole and had its 32 white canvas gores 
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folded like a closed umbrella. Above the parachute his brother rode in an-   
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other gondola, suspended beneath the balloon, and cut the holding rope with  
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a knife to precipitate descent. Since there was no vent in the apex of the   
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parachute, Garnerin came down to earth with the most violent oscillations,   
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earning the added distinction of becoming  the first man ever to suffer from 
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airsickness.  For his second jump he had a hole made in the top of the can-  
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vas hemisphere.                                                              
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The first parachute descent from an aeroplane was first made by Captain Berry
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in the USA in the year 1912. As far as aviators were concerned, the chief im-
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portance of  this achievement lay in the fact that it proved the ability of  
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an aircraft to remain stable after dropping a passenger. Its military        
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implications were ignored.                                                   
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