Da Vinci's 4 Designs

Have you ever wondered how a bird flies? Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) did. He thought that understanding how a bird flies would provide the key to human flight. So, what did da Vinci learn from birds?

- Gemma White

They Make It Look Easy 

Da Vinci’s study of birds was extensive. His notebooks include pages and pages of observations and drawings. He made detailed sketches of a bird’s body and wings. He observed the subtle movements of the wings in flight and the reaction of the wings against different wind conditions. He noted how a bird can drop from the sky and dive to the ground. He also watched a bird remain stationary in the wind by using fine movements of its wings and tail. He understood how a bird achieves motion by exerting more pressure against the air than the air exerts against its body.

Da Vinci performed many experiments. He constructed models to test the effect of shifting the bird’s center of gravity. He built replicas of birds’ and bats’ wings. He experimented with different materials to test what would be the best material for a full-scale flying machine. He believed that by understanding the mathematics underlying a bird’s movement, man could then mimic it and take to the air.

A Power Problem