Pulling the rip cord: Floyd Smith

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Pulling the rip cord: Floyd Smith

At the end of World War I, parachutes still weren’t standard equipment for military pilots. To address concerns about their use, Floyd Smith, a pilot himself, designed the first parachute that incorporated a manually operated rip cord. It changed the world of aviation and saved countless lives, and Smith’s innovative spirit continues to set an example for daring inventors and entrepreneurs.

For a limited time, special exhibits in the newly reopened National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum allow visitors to appreciate Smith's inventions in an interactive experience.

Read Smith's story now.

Each month, our Journeys of Innovation series tells the stories of inventors or entrepreneurs who have made a positive difference in the world. Hear it in their own words or read the transcript. 

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