Wilkins Birdmen
Poster Prints from Mary Evans Picture Library
Wilkins Birdmen
GLUM, THE FLYING MAN his clothing opens out to make wings - see companion picture of GAIVRY the Flying Girl
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 577674
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10017874
1751 Birdmen Companion Glum Opens Wilkins Wings
EDITORS COMMENTS
This intriguing photograph from the Mary Evans Picture Library showcases two fascinating figures from the annals of historical aviation: Wilkins Birdman (GLUM) and Gaivry the Flying Girl. Dating back to 1751, these figures represent early attempts to harness the power of human flight. Wilkins Birdman, depicted in the left half of the image, is a man dressed in an ingenious flying apparatus. His clothing, designed by the English inventor George Williams Bird, opens out to reveal a pair of large wings made of feathers and lightweight materials. The wings were attached to the man's body using a harness and straps, allowing him to flap them up and down in an attempt to achieve lift. Despite numerous attempts, Birdman's flying machine never succeeded in getting off the ground. Gaivry the Flying Girl, shown on the right, is a female counterpart to Wilkins Birdman. She is also dressed in a winged costume, designed by the French inventor Jean-Baptiste Gaivry. Gaivry's design featured a pair of wings that could be unfurled from a backpack, allowing the wearer to glide through the air. While Gaivry's invention was more successful than Birdman's, it still failed to provide sustained flight. These two figures represent the early days of human flight, a time when inventors and dreamers dared to imagine a world where humans could take to the skies. Despite their failures, their innovations paved the way for future advancements in aviation technology. Today, we marvel at the feats of modern aviation, but it's important to remember the pioneers who came before us, daring to dream and experiment in the pursuit of human flight.
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