Leonardo da Vinci studied a glider with rigid wings intended to move through the air without powered flapping.
His flying-machine investigations included observations of bird wings, air resistance, balance, and the movement of air. A glider differs from an ornithopter because it does not depend on continuously flapping wings for lift. It must instead use aerodynamic surfaces and a suitable air current or launch.
Leonardo’s sketches were exploratory and did not produce a proven, controllable aircraft. Some designs combined human support with broad wings, while others examined how a pilot might control stability.
The glider concept is often mixed up with Leonardo’s spiral-rotor design and bird-inspired flapping machines. Those are separate ideas: a glider relies on aerodynamic lift while remaining unpowered.