Here are some more images of Incunabula Museum series il volo instrumentale
Da Vinci's Flying Machine. In its configuration Da Vinci's Flying
Machine would not have flown however I think that if one were to flip
the wing spars up 90 degrees and if one were to get rid of that
flapping wing idea it just might fly.
From Da Vinci Inventions"
Of Leonardo da Vinci’s many areas of study, perhaps this Renaissance
man’s favorite was the area of aviation. Da Vinci seemed truly excited
by the possibility of people soaring through the skies like birds.
One of da Vinci’s most famous inventions, the flying machine
(also known as the "ornithopter") ideally displays his powers of
observation and imagination, as well as his enthusiasm for the
potential of flight. The design for this invention is clearly inspired
by the flight of winged animals, which da Vinci hoped to replicate. In
fact, in his notes, he mentions bats, kites and birds as sources of
inspiration.
Perhaps the inspiration of the bat shines through the most, as the
two wings of the device feature pointed ends commonly associated with
the winged creature. Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine had a wingspan
that exceeded 33 feet, and the frame was to be made of pine covered in
raw silk to create a light but sturdy membrane.
The pilot would lie face down in the center of the invention on a
board. To power the wings, the pilot would pedal a crank connected to a
rod-and-pulley system. The machine also had a hand crank for increased
energy output, and a head piece for steering. As the busy pilot spins
cranks with his hands and feet, the wings of the machine flap. The
inspiration of nature in the invention is apparent in the way the wings
were designed to twist as they flapped.
Unfortunately, as da Vinci himself might have realized, while the
flying machine may have flown once it was in the air, a person could
never have created enough power to get the device off the ground.
2 comments:
This is pretty cool. It has such a delicate look to it. What are the dimentions of the model?
Dave
The wing span is about 3 feet.
Post a Comment