Franz Reichelt (1879–1912), an Austrian-born French tailor and inventor known as the “Flying Tailor,” died after jumping from the first level of the Eiffel Tower while testing his experimental coat parachute. The jump, which took place on February 4, 1912, was intended to demonstrate a wearable parachute design for aviators.
Reichelt had assured authorities that he would first test the device using a dummy. Technically, he kept his word—he simply neglected to mention that he would be the dummy.
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