| _1 Flying machines and studies on flight |
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| _2xx Macchine da guerra |
| 101 ~ Aerial Screw ~ Manuscript B, f. 83v (1489) |
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101_mB83v_01
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101_mB83v_02
101_mB83v_03 |
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Leonardo describes the drawing’s function
on folio 83v of Manuscript B (preserved in the Institut de France in
Paris): it’s not actually a helicopter but an experiment with an
aerial “screw”. To see a design by Leonardo that’s
more like a helicopter with 4 propellers, we’d have to leaf back
a few pages through Manuscript B to folio 80r. Leonardo proposed an experiment
to verify that air is a fluid, which can be pressed and “leaned
on” in order to push oneself up in flight. If this were the case,
one could also make a “screw” spin, which would move itself
up by pushing the air down.
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| 102 ~ Flapping Wing Experiment ~ Manuscript B, f. 88v (1487-1489) |
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102_mB88v_01
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102_mB88v_02
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An experimental machine used to verify the capacity of human force to flap with enough energy to move the wing. Another interpretation is that the machine could have been useful in verifying the behaviour of the wing itself during the powerful movements required for its use.
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| 103 ~ Wing System ~ Manuscript B, f. 74r (1488) |
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103_mB74r_01
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103_mB74r_02
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Dopo lunghissime osservazioni sul volo e sull' anatomia degli uccelli, Leonardo concepisce questa struttura ad imitazione dello scheletro di un pipistrello.
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| 104 ~ Mechanisms for Mechanical Wings ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 1051r (1480-1485) |
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104_ca1051r_01
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La vite doppia inversa consente di velocizzare le corse rettilinee necessaria per far muovere l'ala: con mezzo giro della leva la corsa viene duplicata. La campanella è il punto dove viene agganciata l'estremità inferiore dell'ala.
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| 105 ~ Dragonfly ~ Codex Ashburnham I, f. 10v |
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105_man-Bx-10v_01
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105_man-Bx-10v_01 |
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This was originally the first folio in Manuscript B, the work Leonardo dedicated primarily to the study of possible flying machines. It is presumed that the genius from Vinci began studies for these machines inspired by nature, observing insects and flying creatures, in this case a dragonfly.
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| 106 ~ Mechanical wings ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 844r |
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106_ca844r_01
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106_ca844r_02
106_ca844r_03 |
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This is a study of mechanical structures for imitating the movement of bird’s wings. It seems to be Leonardo’s intention to experiment with these devices by using a small-scale model covered in feathers. When the lower shaft is set in motion the wing is moved up and down and the pulley simultaneously pulls the struts that bend the tips of the wings.
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| 107 ~ Flying machine ~ Manuscript B, f. 74v - 75r |
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107_Man-B-075r_01
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Una delle versioni di macchina volante progettata da Leonardo.
La posizione del pilota era supina e i meccanismi venivano azionati con due pedali. |
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| 108 ~ Articulated wing system ~ Manuscript B, f. 74v - 75r |
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108_ca858r_01
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108_ca858r_02
108_ca858r_03 |
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Una delle diverse versioni di macchina volante progettata da Leonardo.
Questo aliante poteva muovere le ali in su ed in giù tramite il movimento alternato di due pedali. |
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| 109 ~ Glider ~ Codex Madrid I, f. 64r |
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109_mad64r_01
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Il progetto dell'aliante è tra i più originali tra quelli sul volo. Il suo funzionamento è molto simile a quello di un moderno aquilone: la struttura planante in tela è manovrabile tramite due coppie di corde che permettono di spostarla a destra/sinistra e su/giù in modo da direzionare il mezzo. |
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| 110 ~ Flying machine ~ Codex Atlanticus, f. 70r |
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110_ca70r_02
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In the folio 70r we find a project for a flying machine. The designs at the top represent a side view of the wing curve. In the center, a very faint drawing shows the overall front view with a person outlined in the middle. Below, there is a detailed design of the left wing and to its side are specific details for its attachment to the central structure. |
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| 111 ~
Ornithopter ~ Manuscript
B, f. 80r |
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| 112 ~
Wire-controlled bird ~ Codex
of Flight, f. 15v |
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Leonardo has designed a special instrument for
measuring the center of gravity and the position of equilibrium of a
model bird.
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| 113 ~
Mechanical Dragonfly ~ Codex
Atlanticus, f. 1051v |
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113_ca1051v
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Does the design on folio 1051v of the Codex
Atlanticus hide the first aeronautical engine in history? Leonardo drew
a structure5 containing a device with a spring. This is not a preliminary
design but a very concrete idea that he studied purposefully to use in
flight, evidenced by the writing bird and cause of movement flanking
the drawings. The mechanism was researched thoroughly, since the four
wings placed in the upper part would modify their angle as they flap
up and down.
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| 114 ~
Great Kite ~ Codex
on Flight |
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114
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The machine’s reconstruction is to be
considered faithful to Leonardo’s idea. Despite the absence of
the machine drawn in its entirety, there is little space for free interpretation
and the textual indications supply excellent guidelines; likewise for
fundamental constructive matters, such as the dimensions, the materials
and the positioning of the center of gravity. The existence of this design
could never be put into question, though it was obviously subject to
modification. Indeed, in the course of future studies, some mechanisms
may be perfected or their functioning reconsidered.
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