Study of the mechanical wing

Leonardo was not contented to put feathers on people's arms as in Greek Mythology; he was determined to create the mechanism to give man flight.

In a series of revolutionary drawings, such as the "Flapping Wing" and the "Mechanical Wing", he showed details of the first prototype of a fully mechanised flying machine. In this particular study of the wing, Leonardo mimicked the birds ; flapping structure with levers, pulleys and flexing of rods and ropes for tendons.

These studies would lead him to the discovery of a modern day invention - the Gilder.

Credit : HK Sciences Museum.