Flapping-Wing Aircraft.

Posted by Alex in Car & Vehicle, Pictures on July 12, 2006 at 1:01 am



Photo: David Cooper/Toronto Star

After working for 30 years to create a flapping-wing aircraft, first imagined by Leonardo da Vinci, Dr. James DeLaurier succeeded:

Yesterday Dr. James DeLaurier, an aeronautical engineer and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto’s Institute for Aerospace Studies, fulfilled a lifelong dream, seeing his manned mechanical flapping-wing airplane, or ornithopter, fly — a dream first imagined by Leonardo da Vinci.

And with the successful flight DeLaurier has been lucky enough to touch what many describe as the Holy Grail of aeronautical design, achieving a place for himself, his team of volunteers and students in aviation history.

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COMMENT

4 comments to "Flapping-Wing Aircraft."

  1. mofongo
    July 12th, 2006 at 1:38 pm

    Couldn’t find a single video in their website of this piece of crap actually flying. Just bouncing around and gliding for a few feet then dropping down again. So much for success… Unless they define flight by a few intermitent seconds being airborne a few feet from the floor, but I thought the Wright brothers achieved the same thing a long time ago. If they stick a propeller or any other type of propulsion on it, then the flapping wings will just be a gimmick, since it will be like any other plane. Bet the researches still get paid handsomely anyway. Oh well, back to the drawing board, have to pay for my Ferrari and my mansion!

  2. Fahad Al Mahmood
    July 14th, 2006 at 8:04 am

    It’s a very interesting to see some people actually keep trying to bring De Vinci’s ancient design into reality. Personally I don’t expect this vehicle to take off more than few feet … but it would be interesting to see how far those guys are planning to go and how are they going to get some sponsors to believe in their idea …. whatever that might be! :P

  3. aircraft parts
    July 4th, 2008 at 3:15 am

    That would really have been a pleasant time for him.

  4. Rikhav Infotech
    July 23rd, 2008 at 5:00 am

    Used Airplanes for sale - Classified listings for aircraft sales, new and used airplanes for sale, jets for sale by owners and commercial aircraft manufacturers.


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