10/20/2026
On this day in aviation history ✈️
October 20, 1922: Test pilot Lt. Harold Harris was flying over Dayton, Ohio, when his aircraft started coming apart in midair. He climbed out, fell free, and pulled his ripcord, becoming the first person ever saved by an emergency freefall parachute jump.
At the time, many pilots didn’t trust parachutes. Harris’s jump helped change that, and it’s a reminder that the right equipment matters most on the day you need it.
At JITA, we’re proud to support the aviation and aerospace community with the tools, supplies, and safety products that keep people and missions moving.