Ornithopter Research Paper

504 Words2 Pages

The Ornithopter was a machine made by Leonardo Da Vinci as a possible flying machine. He wrote 35,000 words and over 500 sketches talking about the flying machines, nature of air and how birds fly. His studies of birds made him discover that birds change direction by slightly adjusting their tail and wing. The Wright Brother later used slight changes in the crafts to change direction. He also noted that shifting weight could control flight which is what glider pioneers would do in the late nineteenth century. He wrote that a light structure was essential in an aircraft, even hinting at gravity which Newton later discovers. Although there is no evidence that the aircraft could actually take off it could have possibly if they had discovered lightweight …show more content…

Even if the machine was made it would have been unable to fly as it was predicted it did not produce enough thrust to maintain it in the air for long. A 20 page of drawings and notes known as the Codex on the Flight of birds had many concepts out of its time and would have a place in the development of the first successful plane. There is a legend that Leonardo tested a Ornithopter with and apprentice but he fell and broke his leg. Although there are no records of this event. Some of his design were like a hang glider and other would be powered by a man-powered rotor but was found that they rotated in opposite directions. Another model that was constructed was made of pine covered in raw silk to provide a light but durable frame. He would have noticed it could take off if launched by a crossbow catapult but could never take off by itself. He had multiple types and designs of it some were like hang glider and other resembled bats and birds. He also has a working parachute that was tested by a daredevil and found to be working. They control the Yaw by weight shifting and the Roll was controlled by a pulley system that was controlled the position of the pilot's

More about Ornithopter Research Paper

Open Document