The intention
In 1911 An Austrian tailor named Frans Reichelt wanted to do a jump flight from the Eiffel Tower.
The approach
He expected the public to be able to measure his flight time. Instead, one could measure the impact of the crater that caused its fall.
The result
The tailor from Austria himself had a very short learning curve. But his attempt and that of many others in history, contributed to the invention of the modern parachute as we know it today.
The lessons
Al in 1797 Frenchman Andre Jacques Garnerin successfully jumped from a height of 1000 meters from a hot air balloon using a basket under a silk cloth, reinforced with poles to keep it open. The first successful jump with a parachute without stiffeners to keep it open was made 1897 by the American Tom Baldwin.
Yet it took until 1919 before the American, Leslie Irvin made the first free fall and then the parachute jump. This was the very beginning of skydiving as a sport.
Author: Bas Ruyssenaars
OTHER BRILLIANT FAILURES
Nomination Brilliant Failures Award Healthcare 2022: MindAffect’s Turnaround
Theo Breuers developed a system based on facial recognition that warns when a resident enters or leaves certain areas. The project failed due to privacy legislation.
The Olympic 10.000 meters from Sven Kramer in Vancouver (2010)
The intention to achieve Gold at the Olympics 10.000 meter in Vancouver. The approach Kemkers and Kramer worked together on a thorough preparation based on: 6 years of intensive collaboration and resulted in countless [...]
Audience winner 2011 -Quitting is an option!
The intention To introduce a cooperative micro-insurance system in Nepal, under the name Share&Care, with the aim of improving access and quality of healthcare, including prevention and rehabilitation. From the beginning [...]
