A parachutist is a person who uses a parachute to descend safely from an aircraft or other elevated platform. They are equipped with a parachute, which is a large fabric canopy that slows down their descent by creating drag. Parachutists often jump from airplanes, helicopters, or hot air balloons, and they experience the exhilarating feeling of freefall before deploying their parachute to slow their descent and land safely on the ground. It requires skill, training, and careful planning to become a proficient parachutist.