Franz Reichelt

On February 4, 1912 Franz Reichelt fell to his death from the Eiffel Tower. From Wikipedia:

Reichelt, known as the flying tailor, designed an overcoat to fly or float its wearer gently to the ground like the modern parachute. To demonstrate his invention he made a jump of 60 meters from the first deck of the Eiffel Tower, at that time the tallest man-made structure in the world. The parachute failed and Reichelt fell to his death. The jump was recorded by the cameras of the gathered press.

Now check out the video:

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Posted By: Alex - Mon Dec 08, 2008
Category: Death | Inventions

Comments

Was the concept of prototyping not around in 1912? I can think of all types of tests that would not include me jumping to my death.

Posted by Madd Maxx on 12/08/08 at 08:28 AM

Especially gruesome was at the very end where the authorities were measuring the depth of the depression he made when he landed. eww..

Posted by larriann on 12/08/08 at 10:40 AM

Thank GOD for my debilitating fear of heights...

Posted by KW in Dallas, TX on 12/08/08 at 11:06 AM

OOPS!

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 12/08/08 at 11:23 AM

What kind of alterations...a little extra ballast to his underwear?

Posted by Madd Maxx on 12/08/08 at 12:07 PM

Natural selection at work...

Posted by jhwker in Kansas on 12/08/08 at 12:17 PM

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