Parachutes appear in both Star Wars Canon and Legends. However, they’re rare, occurring about 16 times throughout the franchise’s history.
One reason you find a lack of parachutes in Star Wars is that Jedi freefall from great heights and survive while non-Force-sensitives often use specialized machinery over parachutes.
Parachutes appear in Star Wars, but they’re so rare, even clone paratroopers used methods other than parachutes when in combat. Jedi jump from any height if they can stop themselves from reaching terminal velocity, negating the need for parachutes.
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Are there Parachutes in Star Wars?
Clone paratroopers were specialized soldiers trained for airborne combat. They entered various battles from the air, using specialized jetpacks to descend in favor of parachutes.
Although Wookieepedia refers to the jetpacks as “specialized parachutes,” they are not traditional parachutes you may be familiar with in our galaxy. Therefore, the term parachutes in Star Wars, as far as clone paratroopers go, is more subjective.
In Revenge of the Sith, clone paratroopers descend on Utapau without any visible parachute when they battle with the Droid Army and execute Order 66. Instead, these “parachutes” are jetpacks, which allow clone paratroopers to land safely without reaching terminal velocity.
Further equipment comprised a cama, modified Phase II clone trooper armor, blaster carbines, and blaster rifles.
Examples of Parachutes in Star Wars
Parachutes, however, occurred in both Canon and Legends, although they weren’t common.
In Star Wars Legends, Je’daii Daegen Lok and Force Hound Xesh used parachutes in 25,793 BBY to escape their PHO-V fighter. Legends also mention a parachute being used during the Galactic Civil War, when a bounty hunter rescued a child on Dantooine.
So how rare are parachutes in Star Wars Canon?
Take the following quote from Leox Gyasi:
“Parachute. Not many people use ‘em anymore, now that they have power hover-ejectors etc.”
An “old-fashioned kind of guy,” Gyasi used a parachute during the High Republic Era following the destruction of the Starlight Beacon Space Station.
Initially blown out of the station, comrades Affie Hollow and Geode thought Gyasi did not survive before he descended to the planet Eiram’s surface.
Can Jedi Jump from Any Height?
When the clone troopers exercised Order 66 in Revenge of the Sith, Kenobi freefall without a parachute into a body of water and easily survived.
Given the memorable line, “No sir, no one could have survived that fall,” it’s clear the clones weren’t aware a Jedi’s Force-sensitivity would help them survive a jump (or a fall) from great heights.
The Clone Wars also give us insight into Jedi jumping from altitudes of 50 feet or higher. Count Dooku levitated off of these structures while Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano dived and landed upright.
Some point to Mace Windu’s death in Revenge of the Sith, in which he “fell to his death.” However, Windu took a massive dose of Force lightning, indicating he was dead before he freefell.
Overall, Jedi used the Force to stop themselves from hitting terminal velocity, which allowed them to survive any jump or fall. If they hit terminal velocity, they would not survive a fall like any non-Force-sensitive.
Do Jedi Need Parachutes?
Given the presence of jetpacks and power hover-ejectors, Jedi do not need parachutes even if they’re not yet so well-versed in the Force to stop their fall at terminal velocity.
However, since The Clone Wars has shown Jedi Padawans like Ahsoka Tano using the Force to slow her fall during her many high-altitude dives with Anakin, it indicates Jedi become well-versed in the act early.
Luke Skywalker further drives this point home when he free falls down the reactor shaft after learning the truth about Darth Vader. By this point, Luke received little Jedi training from Yoda during his brief stay on Dagobah.
