‘Mary Poppins’ inspires umbrella parachuting attempts

In Walt Disney’s original Mary Poppins movie, the title character employs her umbrella to float effortlessly upon the wind as a means of transportation between nannying assignments.

The movie’s fantastical flying scenes inspired a generation of kids in the 1960s to wonder if parachuting with nothing more than an umbrella might work in real life.

Could an umbrella actually suffice for safe descending to the ground from on high? When one crunches the numbers, it turns out a humungous umbrella would be required. The average 196-pound adult American would require a parasol with a diameter of 24.25 feet (7.93 m).

In 2013, skydiver Erik Roner put the umbrella theory to the test, jumping from a hot air balloon while grasping a patio shade (and wearing a parachute… just in case). Not surprisingly, the patio shade — lacking the requisite surface area — succumbs to the air flow after a short while and transforms into a limp projectile.

More recently, popular YouTuber Tanner Fox produced a clickbait video entitled “Umbrella Skydiving!!!”. Fox fakes a two-story leap, before capturing an actual jump from a first-story overhang.

Disney’s sequel to Marry Poppins is scheduled for release on Christmas Day this year. In Mary Poppins Returns, Emily Blunt will assume the role first brought to life by Julie Andrews more than half a century ago. Her magical umbrella can be clearly seen in one of the stills taken earlier this year from the upcoming movie.

Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame will play Bert, the chimney sweep role made popular by Dick Van Dyke.

Watch for new umbrella parachuting attempts in early 2019, as millions of new kids are exposed to the story for the first time.