Leonardo da Vinci’s wing-powered flying-machine concept was an ornithopter.
An ornithopter is an aircraft intended to fly by flapping wings, imitating the movement of birds or bats. Leonardo studied birds, bats, and the mechanics of flight extensively, and his notebooks contain several designs with wings operated by human muscle.
The concept was based on the idea that a pilot could power large wings through pedals, levers, and connecting mechanisms. Human muscles, however, cannot provide enough sustained power for a person-sized machine of this kind. Leonardo’s drawings therefore represent investigations and proposals rather than a proven aircraft.
An ornithopter is different from the spiral aircraft concept often associated with Leonardo. The spiral design relies on rotating motion, while an ornithopter depends on flapping wings. Modern experimental ornithopters have flown, but they generally use engines or small-scale mechanisms rather than direct human power.