What type of winged machine did Leonardo da Vinci study for human flight?

Leonardo da Vinci studied an ornithopter, a machine intended to fly by flapping wings.

The word “ornithopter” means a craft that gains lift from wings moving in an animal-like flapping motion. Leonardo examined birds, bats, and the mechanics of wing movement while developing several human-flight concepts. His notes included wing structures, control ideas, and observations about air.

Leonardo understood that human muscles alone would not easily power a bird-sized machine. Some of his designs therefore considered mechanical assistance and larger wings. None of his ornithopters flew successfully, and he did not build a proven powered aircraft.

The concept differs from the aerial screw, which uses a rotating helical surface, and from a glider, which relies on forward motion through the air. Leonardo’s ornithopter studies nevertheless helped connect biological observation with mechanical design.