This particular flying machine is modeled after Leonardo da Vinci's best known aircraft design - the man powered ornithopter which he most probably designed some time between 1482 and 1499. This airplane model flies well as either a kite or a hand launched glider and in the air looks pretty much like what you'd expect a 1400's vintage aircraft design to look like. Although a full-size version of this design never actually flew it's interesting to see just how close Leonardo came to today's modern aircraft. 28 inch wingspan. Very interesting. |