The Invention of the Military Parachute

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

The Invention of the Military Parachute — an illustrated inventions story, set in France. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

The Invention of the Military Parachute — book cover — Wonder Inventions
The Invention of the Military Parachute — an illustrated inventions story, set in France. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

"Adriana, look!" Zola exclaimed, pointing to a shimmering crystal high above. "This cave is like a giant kaleidoscope!" Adriana smiled, her voice echoing…
"Adriana, look!" Zola exclaimed, pointing to a shimmering crystal high above. "This cave is like a giant kaleidoscope!" Adriana smiled, her voice echoing slightly, "It's said that lost melodies are trapped within these crystals, Zola." Zola pulled out her worn leather notebook. "Wait a minute—if crystals can trap sound, who invented the way we communicate from far away?"

"Adriana, look!" Zola exclaimed, pointing to a shimmering crystal high above. "This cave is like a giant kaleidoscope!" Adriana smiled, her voice echoing slightly, "It's said that lost melodies are trapped within these crystals, Zola." Zola pulled out her worn leather notebook. "Wait a minute—if crystals can trap sound, who invented the way we communicate from far away?"

Page 2

Adriana chuckled. "That's a big question, Zola! But if you're really curious, why don't you consult your Invention Encyclopedia?" Back in her room, surrounded…
Adriana chuckled. "That's a big question, Zola! But if you're really curious, why don't you consult your Invention Encyclopedia?" Back in her room, surrounded by science posters and miniature robot models, Zola excitedly grabbed the glowing book. As she opened it, the room shimmered. "Here we go!" she shouted, grabbing her notebook before light swirled around her.

Adriana chuckled. "That's a big question, Zola! But if you're really curious, why don't you consult your Invention Encyclopedia?" Back in her room, surrounded by science posters and miniature robot models, Zola excitedly grabbed the glowing book. As she opened it, the room shimmered. "Here we go!" she shouted, grabbing her notebook before light swirled around her.

Page 3

Suddenly, they landed in a bustling city square. "Whoa! Where are we?" Zola asked, looking around in amazement. Adriana scanned the surroundings.
Suddenly, they landed in a bustling city square. "Whoa! Where are we?" Zola asked, looking around in amazement. Adriana scanned the surroundings. "Looks like...late 18th-century France? And everyone seems quite worried about something up in the sky." A worried town crier ran past, shouting about dangerous balloon ascensions. Zola frowned. "I don't understand. Why are balloons dangerous?"

Suddenly, they landed in a bustling city square. "Whoa! Where are we?" Zola asked, looking around in amazement. Adriana scanned the surroundings. "Looks like...late 18th-century France? And everyone seems quite worried about something up in the sky." A worried town crier ran past, shouting about dangerous balloon ascensions. Zola frowned. "I don't understand. Why are balloons dangerous?"

Page 4

A man rushed past, muttering, "If only there was a way to safely descend from those contraptions!" Adriana caught his arm.
A man rushed past, muttering, "If only there was a way to safely descend from those contraptions!" Adriana caught his arm. "Excuse me, sir, what's all the commotion about?" The man sighed. "These new 'balloons' are all the rage, but if something goes wrong up there, you're doomed! There's no way to survive a fall! It's like Shakespeare said, 'The readiness is all.' And we are not ready for balloon accidents!"

A man rushed past, muttering, "If only there was a way to safely descend from those contraptions!" Adriana caught his arm. "Excuse me, sir, what's all the commotion about?" The man sighed. "These new 'balloons' are all the rage, but if something goes wrong up there, you're doomed! There's no way to survive a fall! It's like Shakespeare said, 'The readiness is all.' And we are not ready for balloon accidents!"

Page 5

"That man is right, there were many accidents," a new voice said. An older man, clad in simple work clothes, approached. "My name is Louis-Sébastien Lenormand.
"That man is right, there were many accidents," a new voice said. An older man, clad in simple work clothes, approached. "My name is Louis-Sébastien Lenormand. I'm trying to find a solution." Zola's eyes widened. "You're Lenormand? The inventor of the parachute?" Lenormand smiled wearily. "I am trying to be, little one. I've been experimenting for years."

"That man is right, there were many accidents," a new voice said. An older man, clad in simple work clothes, approached. "My name is Louis-Sébastien Lenormand. I'm trying to find a solution." Zola's eyes widened. "You're Lenormand? The inventor of the parachute?" Lenormand smiled wearily. "I am trying to be, little one. I've been experimenting for years."

Page 6

Lenormand led them to his workshop. "My first 'parachute' was just two umbrellas tied together!" he said, showing them a comical-looking contraption.
Lenormand led them to his workshop. "My first 'parachute' was just two umbrellas tied together!" he said, showing them a comical-looking contraption. "It failed spectacularly." Zola giggled. "What about your first successful jump?" Lenormand grinned. "December 26th, 1783, from the tower of the Montpellier Observatory! A 14-foot parachute. Quite a show! The idea was to minimize loss to person and property."

Lenormand led them to his workshop. "My first 'parachute' was just two umbrellas tied together!" he said, showing them a comical-looking contraption. "It failed spectacularly." Zola giggled. "What about your first successful jump?" Lenormand grinned. "December 26th, 1783, from the tower of the Montpellier Observatory! A 14-foot parachute. Quite a show! The idea was to minimize loss to person and property."

Page 7

"And it worked?" Adriana asked. Lenormand nodded. "It did! But my design was just the beginning. It took many more inventors and innovations to get to the…
"And it worked?" Adriana asked. Lenormand nodded. "It did! But my design was just the beginning. It took many more inventors and innovations to get to the parachutes we have today! In 1911, Grant Morton made the first parachute jump from a plane. And in 1912, Albert Berry made the first freefall jump!" Zola scribbled furiously in her notebook.

"And it worked?" Adriana asked. Lenormand nodded. "It did! But my design was just the beginning. It took many more inventors and innovations to get to the parachutes we have today! In 1911, Grant Morton made the first parachute jump from a plane. And in 1912, Albert Berry made the first freefall jump!" Zola scribbled furiously in her notebook.

Page 8

Suddenly, a loud roar filled the air. "A balloon is in trouble!" Lenormand shouted, pointing upwards. A hot air balloon was plummeting towards the ground, the…
Suddenly, a loud roar filled the air. "A balloon is in trouble!" Lenormand shouted, pointing upwards. A hot air balloon was plummeting towards the ground, the occupants screaming. "We have to do something!" Zola exclaimed. Remembering something she read, Zola yelled, "Lenormand! Use the knowledge of controlling the air, like with the small model you showed us, to help control the descent of the larger model!"

Suddenly, a loud roar filled the air. "A balloon is in trouble!" Lenormand shouted, pointing upwards. A hot air balloon was plummeting towards the ground, the occupants screaming. "We have to do something!" Zola exclaimed. Remembering something she read, Zola yelled, "Lenormand! Use the knowledge of controlling the air, like with the small model you showed us, to help control the descent of the larger model!"

Page 9

Lenormand quickly attached a modified parachute to the balloon's basket. It slowed the descent just enough for a somewhat bumpy, but safe, landing.
Lenormand quickly attached a modified parachute to the balloon's basket. It slowed the descent just enough for a somewhat bumpy, but safe, landing. The crowd cheered. Later, Lenormand smiled at Zola. "You know, little one, you're right. Necessity is the mother of invention!"

Lenormand quickly attached a modified parachute to the balloon's basket. It slowed the descent just enough for a somewhat bumpy, but safe, landing. The crowd cheered. Later, Lenormand smiled at Zola. "You know, little one, you're right. Necessity is the mother of invention!"

Page 10

Back in her room, Zola closed her Invention Encyclopedia with a satisfied smile. "The military parachute has saved countless lives, Adriana, and it all started…
Back in her room, Zola closed her Invention Encyclopedia with a satisfied smile. "The military parachute has saved countless lives, Adriana, and it all started with a simple desire to make balloon travel safer!" Adriana smiled. "And now, parachutes are used for everything from skydiving to delivering supplies!" "I wonder what we will learn about next time!" Zola asked.

Back in her room, Zola closed her Invention Encyclopedia with a satisfied smile. "The military parachute has saved countless lives, Adriana, and it all started with a simple desire to make balloon travel safer!" Adriana smiled. "And now, parachutes are used for everything from skydiving to delivering supplies!" "I wonder what we will learn about next time!" Zola asked.

About this story

  • Location: France
  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

Questions and answers

Questions and answers about The Invention of the Military Parachute

Read Wonder Inventions on your phone

Wonder Inventions is available on Android. Get Wonder Inventions on Google Play.

More Wonder Inventions stories

All Wonder Inventions stories · Open the library