NIGHTINGALE
ORNITHOPTER
PROJECT
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INTRODUCTION |
For as long as mankind has walked the earth,
he [not to mention "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,unfortunately
not 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_Forum}
We have come a long way but sustained flight remains
elusive and unconquered !
Throughout aviation history, there have been several
'milestone'achievements or 'Firsts' and almost
everything has now 'been done'
but not quite !
Sustained flapping flight in a full-size, piloted
ornithopter is the last aviation 'milestone' or 'First'
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 achieving sustained flight
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