The aviation parachute has Ukrainian roots: discover the Poltava native who taught pilots how to land safely.

On January 30, 1872, Gleb Kotelnikov was born in Poltava to a family of a mathematics and mechanics teacher. He would later become the inventor of the world's first aviation backpack parachute. His parents, Yevgeny and Ekaterina Kotelnikov, were educated individuals who raised their son in an environment rich in arts and sciences.

From a young age, Gleb showed an interest in technology, music, and theater, which shaped his diverse talents. He graduated from the Poltava First Male Gymnasium and later attended the Kyiv Military School. After serving in the army, he returned to Poltava and worked as an excise officer. Simultaneously, he was actively involved in theater and wrote plays, which allowed him to become part of the city's cultural life.

Invention of the Parachute

A tragedy during a ballooning celebration in 1910, when Ukrainian aviator Levko Matsiievych died after falling from a height of 400 meters, became a catalyst for Kotelnikov. He recognized the need for a rescue device for pilots. As a result of extensive experiments and developments, on October 27, 1911, Gleb filed a patent application for a "rescue backpack for aviators with an automatic ejectable parachute." However, he was only able to obtain it in France in 1912.

Recognition and Legacy

Although his invention did not receive adequate recognition in the Russian Empire for a long time, interest in parachutes grew with the onset of World War I. In 1926, Kotelnikov transferred all his patents to the Soviet government, renouncing any compensation. His achievements remained largely unknown for many years.

Gleb Kotelnikov passed away on November 22, 1944, in Moscow. Recently, his contributions to aviation have begun to receive the attention they deserve: a memorial plaque has been installed in Poltava in honor of the designer. This remarkable inventor left a significant mark in the history of aviation and continues to inspire new generations of engineers and inventors.

Earlier, "Telegraph" reported on the inventor who conquered the skies of America. That was Igor Sikorsky.