Greenville in Mercer County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Štefan Banič
(1870-1941)
— Parachute Inventor —
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 15, 2021
1. Štefan Banič Marker
Neštich, Slovakia
Banič was a resident of Greenville, Pa. from 1907–1921 where he invented a parachute. It was successfully demonstrated in Washington, D.C. on August 3, 1914, and shortly thereafter from a U.S. Army airplane. Banič received the first U.S. patent for a parachute, August 25, 1914.
The Slovak Museum & Archives
Jednota Estates, Middletown, Pa.
to the
Greenville Railroad Park & Museum
August 1990
Erected 1990 by Slovak Museum & Archives.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is August 3, 1914.
Location. 41° 24.469′ N, 80° 22.868′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Pennsylvania, in Mercer County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Main Street (Pennsylvania Route 358) and Union Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located on the south side of the Greenville Railroad Museum Building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 314 Main Street, Greenville PA 16125, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Wreck Train Chain (a few steps from this marker); Switch Stand (a few steps from this marker); Bessemer Caboose #1985 (a few steps from this marker);
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Štefan Banič.
Banič immigrated to the United States and worked as a coal miner in Greenville, Pennsylvania. After witnessing a plane crash in 1912, Banič constructed a prototype of a parachute in 1913 and was granted US patent, No. 1,108,484. The design was radically different from others — it was a kind of umbrella attached to the body — but it is sometimes claimed that he successfully tested it in Washington, D.C. jumping first from a 15-storey building and subsequently from an airplane in 1914. He donated his patent to the U.S. Army — but there is no evidence that it was ever used.(Submitted on February 1, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Štefan Banič.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 15, 2021
2. Štefan Banič Marker
Banič was a Slovak designer and inventor who made his mark in aviation history by inventing his ingenious parachute system. He had solved the problem of so-called swimming in the air, which allowed a potential user to sail through the air to a place suitable for landing. He had no cords, but fastened with straps directly to the body in the chest area. He jumped off the roof of the 15th-story Washington building on June 3, before the US Air Force Patent Office. This was followed by further demonstrations of useful parachute improvement, including a plane jump. He also offered his patented invention to the then representatives of the Air Force, the US Army bought it and appointed him an honorary member. Unfortunately, only modest and incomplete materials have been preserved to this day.(Submitted on February 1, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 15, 2021
3. Greenville Railroad Park Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 403 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 1, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
