1938 Press Photo Inventor of Automatic Parachute Richard Hart, New Orleans

Richard Hart smiles as he contemplates the successful demonstration of his automatic parachute at Shushan airport. "The Autochute" invented by Hart does not have a rip-cord; it opens when a pilot jumps and was tested with a dummy, which it wafted gently to the ground. Hart, a storekeeper in the Internal Revenue department, is planning to open a company for Autochute manufacturing soon, has sent his 'chute to army and navy officials for inspection, has hopes it will become standard government equipment.

Photo is dated 1938.

Photo measures 10 x 8.25 inches.