The Infamous Eiffel Tower Death Jump of 1912

“Eiffel Tower Death Jump“ Franz Reichelt, an Austrian-born French inventor, made a living as a tailor while dedicating his free time to developing a flying parachute suit specifically designed for airplane pilots. During Reichelt’s pursuit, airplanes were a relatively new invention, having been flown for the first time in Kitty Hawk in 1903. At that time, the mechanics of how a pilot could escape a damaged plane were still being refined. Initially, Reichelt conducted successful tests using dummies, which led him to bravely test the suit himself. In a daring act, he jumped off the lower level of the Eiffel Tower. Tragically, the 187-foot fall onto frozen ground resulted in his instant death. Further reading: Original upload: March 31st, 2020 Footage from February 4th, 1912 Since the release of this video, a new and improved version of higher quality, with the correct aspect ratio, has been uploaded. Updated upload: November 4th, 2023 Updated link: Copyright Disclaimer: Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the copyright act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statutes that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.