Louis Charles Letur’s Parachute-Glider

Illustration of Louis Charles Letur’s 1853 design for a flying machine. His idea consisted of a large parachute and a pair of wings, with the pilot placed centrally.

Pictured above is an 1853 design for a flying machine by German engineer Louis Charles Letur. In the early 1850’s, Letur became interested in human flight and began developing a parachute-glider. His design consisted of a pilot’s basket flanked by two triangular wings, along with a vertical tail behind (not pictured in the above illustration). This assembly would hang under a large umbrella-like parachute, and it was meant to be lifted to a height by some other means, such as a balloon, then it would release and glide safely back down to earth.

After being released, the parachute would slow the machine’s descent, while the wings and the tail would allow the pilot to steer the craft. Letur made several successful test flights in England and France during 1853 and 1854, which marks the first time a pilot-controlled, heavier-than-air craft was successfully tested. Sadly, Letur died from injuries he sustained during a flight attempt near London on 27 June 1854. After taking off at Cremorne Gardens and assisted by a balloon, the parachute-glider failed to release from the balloon properly, and during the descent the pilot and his machine were dragged through some trees before landing back on earth. Letur died a few days later.

Unfortunately, Letur’s fate is an all-too-common ending for inventors of flying machines throughout history. The dangers associated with human flight are ever present, and throughout history many brilliant, risk-taking individuals have given their lives in the pursuit of flight. It’s a testament to the human need for verticality, and without the bravery and ingenuity of these individuals, the history of human flight would look very different today.

Read more about other ideas for flying machines here.