NIGHTINGALE
ORNITHOPTER
PROJECT
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INTRODUCTION |
For as long as mankind has walked the earth,
he [and "she"] has gazed at the sky and at
the birds and other flying creatures and
dreamed of joining them, of flying as the
birds do, on FLAPPING wings - the most
ancient form of flying !
One of the first attempts to actually design a
piloted ornithopter [ flapping wing aircraft ]
was made by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th
century. 500 years have elapsed since then.
Numerous attempts to build and fly a full-size,
piloted ornithopter have not yet succeeded.
The past decade has seen a rapid increase in
the amount of flapping wing research being
conducted worldwide and we have now
achieved brief intentional lift-offs
{1998, The Delaurier/University Of Toronto
ornithopter C-GPTR. Test-pilot:myself..
For details see
Ornithopter_Researchers_Page}
We have come a long way but sustained flight
remains elusive and unconquered !
Throughout aviation history, there have been
several 'milestone'achievements' and almost
everything has now 'been done'
but not quite !
Sustained flapping flight in a full-size, piloted
ornithopter is the last aviation 'milestone' and
is the only one that has not yet been achieved.
The 'Nightingale' Ornithopter Project is my own,
individual attempt to design, build and fly a
full-size, piloted, engine powered ornithopter
that is capable of taking off under it's own
power and achieving sustained flight
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