A bat inspired the wing structure in several of Leonardo da Vinci’s flying-machine studies.
Leonardo studied birds and bats because he wanted to understand how living creatures generate lift and control movement. His ornithopter concepts used large wings and included structural ideas associated with bat membranes, such as a framework supporting a flexible covering. The designs were intended to imitate flapping flight rather than use a propeller.
An ornithopter is an aircraft designed to fly by flapping wings. Leonardo produced many sketches of such machines, but none is known to have achieved sustained human flight. Human muscles cannot supply the same power-to-weight ratio as the muscles of flying animals, making a direct imitation especially difficult.
Leonardo’s investigations were still valuable because they connected anatomy, observation, mechanics, and aerodynamics. His drawings also show that he understood the importance of lightweight structures and wing control. The bat is the specific animal linked to the membrane-like wing concept, while birds influenced other parts of his flight research.