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.
 







This is pretty cool. It has such a delicate look to it. What are the dimentions of the model?
ReplyDeleteDave
The wing span is about 3 feet.
ReplyDelete