Gleb Kotelnikov

Gleb Yevgenyevich Kotelnikov (Russian: Глеб Евгеньевич Котельников; January 30 [O.S. January 18] 1872 – 22 November 1944) was a Russian and Soviet inventor of the knapsack parachute (first in the hard casing and then in the soft pack), and braking parachute.

Gleb Kotelnikov had exceptional musical ability at a young age, becoming proficient on the violin, balalaika, and mandolin and even writing his own music. In addition to music, he was interested in electronics and fencing, and he had exceptional aptitude in building complex gadgets. Using only a used lens and hand-crafting the remaining components, such as photographic plates, he constructed a working camera at the age of thirteen. His father fostered his many interests and supported his ability.

After his father died unexpectedly, Kotelnikov had to change his plans to attend a technical institute or conservatory. Financial difficulties forced him to give up his artistic goals and enlist in the army, attending the Kiev Military School.

In 1894 he graduated with honors. After three years of compulsory service, he went into the reserve - returned to Poltava (where his parents resided since 1889), married there and got a job as an excise official in the provincial excise department. Excise service, simultaneously with the introduction of the wine monopoly, established a curatorial office for national sobriety, which organized public readings, open readings, and folk theaters - which allowed him to indulge in what he loved.

In 1910 Gleb returned to St Petersburg and became an actor in the troupe of the People's House on the Petersburg side (with Glebov-Kotelnikov as his pseudonym ).

Early in the 20th century, Russia's first pilots frequently conducted demonstration flights in large towns to demonstrate their proficiency with aircraft control. Kotelnikov developed a fascination with flying. He was a regular visitor to the Commandant airfield, where he watched the aircraft with interest. Kotelnikov was greatly moved by the courage and commitment of Russian pilots who ventured to the skies in shaky, primitive planes, and he realized the enormous possibilities of aerial exploration.

He witnessed the death of a talented Russian pilot Lev Matsievich which was such a shock that he became obsessed with the idea of constructing a parachute, to which he devoted several years of his life as well as all his personal savings.

In 1911 he created his first parachute RK-1 (which stands for Rantseviy (knapsack) or Russian Kotelnikova (by Kotelnikov), 1st model), that was successfully employed in 1914 during World War I.