Ornithopter Collection

Victorian ornithopter with James Bell Pettigrew, Professor at the University of St Andrews. c.late 1800s

Cyrano de Bergerac, flying by means of bottles of dew evaporated by sunlight, Paris 1850 (engraving)
5616668 Cyrano de Bergerac, flying by means of bottles of dew evaporated by sunlight, Paris 1850 (engraving); (add.info.: Cyrano de Bergerac, flying by means of bottles of dew evaporated by sunlight)

Jakob Degen's Ornithopter
5307585 Jakob Degen's Ornithopter.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting Jakob Degen's Ornithopter. Two flaps were fastened to his back by a yoke)

An electrically driven ornithoper
5616666 An electrically driven ornithoper; (add.info.: Reuben Jasper Spalding's (1889) method of quick, direct transport; an electrically driven ornithoper. From Der Stein der Weisen, (ca 1895)

Alphonse Penaud's ornithopter
5616602 Alphonse Penaud's ornithopter; (add.info.: Alphonse Penaud's ornithopter, driven by twisted rubber bands. Alphonse Penaud (1850-1880) a French aviation designer and engineer

Mechanical bird or ornithopter
5616603 Mechanical bird or ornithopter; (add.info.: Mechanical bird or ornithopter, driven by twisted rubber bands, by Alphonse Penaud (1850 - 1880)

An electrically driven ornithoper
5616667 An electrically driven ornithoper; (add.info.: Reuben Jasper Spalding's (1889) method of quick, direct transport; an electrically driven ornithoper. From Der Stein der Weisen, (ca 1895)

Tatin's mechanical bird
5616609 Tatin's mechanical bird:; (add.info.: Victor Tatin (1843 - 1913) was a French engineer who created an early airplane

Tatin's mechanical bird
5616605 Tatin's mechanical bird; (add.info.: Victor Tatin (1843 - 1913) was a French engineer who created an early airplane, the Aeroplane in 1879

Mechanical bird or ornithopter
5616604 Mechanical bird or ornithopter; (add.info.: Mechanical bird or ornithopter, driven by twisted rubber bands, by Alphonse Penaud (1850 - 1880)

Tatin's mechanical bird
5616608 Tatin's mechanical bird:; (add.info.: Victor Tatin (1843 - 1913) was a French engineer who created an early airplane, the Aeroplane in 1879. Tatin's mechanical bird

Jacob Degens 1808 ornithopter with flap valves, in which the pilot stood on a rigid
2619143 Jacob Degens 1808 ornithopter with flap valves, in which the pilot stood on a rigid frame and worked the wings with a movable horizontal bar, from Les Merveilles de la Science

Jacob Degens flying machine, 1808, (1932). Creator: Unknown
Jacob Degens flying machine, 1808, (1932). Flying machine built by Jacob Degen, a clockmaker from Vienna, who made his first attempt in his tethered ornithopter in the spring of 1808

Illustration of Leonardo da Vincis ornithopter flying machine

Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci of an ornithopter with pilot, and a life-preserver
LEONARDO: ORNITHOPTER. Drawings by Leonardo da Vinci of an ornithopter with pilot, and a life-preserver

Engraving depicting Jakob Degens Ornithopter, 19th century
Engraving depicting Jakob Degens Ornithopter

an electrically driven ornithoper. 1889
Reuben Jasper Spaldings (1889) method of quick, direct transport; an electrically driven ornithoper. From Der Stein der Weisen, (ca 1895)

Tatins mechanical bird:
Victor Tatin (1843 1913) was a French engineer who created an early airplane, the A roplane in 1879. Tatins mechanical bird:

mechanical bird or ornithopter, driven by twisted rubber bands, by Alphonse P naud (1850 1880), 19th-century French pioneer of aviation design and engineering

Alphonse P nauds ornithopter, driven by twisted rubber bands. Alphonse P naud (1850-1880) a French aviation designer and engineer. Dated 19th Century

Cyrano de Bergerac, flying by means of bottles of dew evaporated by sunlight, thus lifting him. From Oeuvres de Cyrano de Bergerac, Paris 1850

Flying machine patent, 1889 C024 / 3607
Flying machine patent, 1889. Artwork showing a device invented by Reuben Spalding to allow a person to fly via the aid of a balloon and bird-like wings and tail

A representation of Bartolomeu Lourenco de Gusmaos man-carrying ornithopter of 1709. Wood engraving, American, 1857
FLYING MACHINE, 1709. A representation of Bartolomeu Lourenco de Gusmaos man-carrying ornithopter of 1709. Wood engraving, American, 1857

Drawing of a man-powered flying machine designed by English pioneer of aviation, George Cayley. Lithograph, 1853
CAYLEY FLYING MACHINE, 1853. Drawing of a man-powered flying machine designed by English pioneer of aviation, George Cayley. Lithograph, 1853

Diagram of Gustave Trouves ornithopter, which was powered by an internal combustion engine
TROUVEs ORNITHOPTER. Diagram of Gustave Trouves ornithopter, which was powered by an internal combustion engine. Invented in 1870, it was the first ornithopter to successfully fly

Prone ornithopter, with both legs moving together, and wings hand operated on the up stroke
LEONARDO: ORNITHOPTER. Prone ornithopter, with both legs moving together, and wings hand operated on the up stroke. Drawing, c1487, by Leonardo da Vinci

Design for flying machine with human operator
LEONARDO DA VINCI. Design for flying machine with human operator

Wing-testing rig on scales, for an ornithopter wing. Drawing, c1485, by Leonardo da Vinci
LEONARDO: ORNITHOPTER. Wing-testing rig on scales, for an ornithopter wing. Drawing, c1485, by Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vincis drawing of a wing-testing rig for an ornithopter wing, 1486-1490
LEONARDO: ORNITHOPTER. Leonardo da Vincis drawing of a wing-testing rig for an ornithopter wing, 1486-1490

Sketch of a semi-prone ornithopter, showing gear train, and cog-pedal transmission
LEONARDO: ORNITHOPTER. Sketch of a semi-prone ornithopter, showing gear train, and cog-pedal transmission. Drawing, c1485, by Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vincis drawing, c1487, of a prone ornithopter with pilots legs moving together
LEONARDO: ORNITHOPTER. Leonardo da Vincis drawing, c1487, of a prone ornithopter with pilots legs moving together and wings hand-operated on the upstroke

Drawing, c1486-90, of a standing ornithopter. A man standing in a bowl-shaped aircraft operates four beating wings by
LEONARDO: AERONAUTICS. Drawing, c1486-90, of a standing ornithopter. A man standing in a bowl-shaped aircraft operates four beating wings by means of a massive transmission of hand-and-foot operated

Diagram of Thomas Walkers ornithopter
ORNITHOPTER, 1810. Diagram of Thomas Walkers ornithopter

The ornithopter flying fox design of Major R F Moore u
The ornithopter flying fox design of Major R.F. Moore under test. Each bat-pattern wing (7 feet span) was flapped on a test rig powered by a gas engine

Emiel Hartman crashes in his man-powered ornithopter at Cranfield, Bedfordshire. 4 November 1959

Emiel Hartman flying his man-powered ornithopter at Cranfield, Bedfordshire. 30 October 1959

Emiel Hartman in the cockpit of his man-powered ornithopter at Cranfield, Bedfordshire. c.October 1959

Leonardo da Vincis design for flying machine with human operator
LEONARDO: ORNITHOPTER. Leonardo da Vincis design for flying machine with human operator

Method for starting Gustave Trouves ornithopter. Invented in 1870, it was the first ornithopter to successfully fly
TROUVEs ORNITHOPTER. Method for starting Gustave Trouves ornithopter. Invented in 1870, it was the first ornithopter to successfully fly. Contemporary American engraving

Frost ornithopter 1905
Frost ornithopter, 1905. Date: 1905

Thomas Walkers proposed ornithopter from A Treatise upon the Art of Flying. 1810

Sketch of the car for an ornithopter showing the flappers
Sketch of the car for an ornithopter, showing the flapper transmission and the seat and foot-rest for the pilot. 1808. From Cayleys original notebook

First design for an ornithopter showing the flappers
First design for an ornithopter, showing the flappers in the down-position and the counterpoises (above) in the up-position. 1808. From Cayleys original notebook

Mechanically powered flying machine
Leonardo da Vinci produced several designs for ornithopters but this drawing can be interpreted as acceptance that man-powered flight is not practicable

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The ornithopter, a fascinating invention that has captured the imagination of many throughout history. From Victorian times to the present day, this flying machine has been an object of wonder and innovation. One notable example is James Bell Pettigrew's Victorian ornithopter. With intricate designs and meticulous craftsmanship, it showcased the creativity and ambition of its time. Leonardo da Vinci also left his mark on the ornithopter's legacy with his remarkable design for a flying machine. Constructed from wood, leather, and string, this reconstruction showcases da Vinci's visionary mind. In 1808, Jacob Degens took the concept further by incorporating flap valves into his ornithopter. This ingenious addition allowed for improved control as the pilot stood on a rigid structure while maneuvering through the skies. An intriguing photograph from 1932 captures another one of Degens' flying machines. Although the creator remains unknown, this image serves as a testament to humanity's relentless pursuit of flight. Leonardo da Vinci's drawings depict an ornithopter with a pilot accompanied by a life-preserver—a reminder that even great minds consider safety in their inventions. Jakob Degens' Ornithopter is beautifully depicted in an engraving from the 19th century. Its elegant design showcases both artistry and engineering prowess. Advancements continued with an electrically driven ornithoper in 1889—an innovative leap forward in propulsion technology during that era. Tatin's mechanical bird was yet another marvel—a testament to human ingenuity mimicking nature itself. It soared through the air with grace and precision like its living counterparts. Alphonse Pénaud made significant contributions to aviation history with his own version of an ornithopter—an embodiment of determination and perseverance towards achieving flight. Lastly, Cyrano de Bergerac found inspiration in bottles filled with dew evaporated by sunlight—his unique take on propelling himself through the air.