Leonardo da Vinci’s ornithopter was a human-flight machine designed to fly by flapping wings inspired by birds and bats.
Leonardo studied bird anatomy, wing movement, balance and air currents while developing several flying-machine concepts. His ornithopter drawings show a pilot lying or standing inside a framework and operating large wings through pedals, levers or other mechanical controls.
The word ornithopter comes from Greek roots meaning “bird” and “wing.” Unlike a glider, which depends on fixed wings and forward motion, an ornithopter is intended to generate lift through flapping wings. Leonardo’s machines were not successfully flown, largely because human muscles cannot provide enough power for a machine of the proposed size.
Leonardo also explored gliders and the aerial screw, but those are separate concepts. His ornithopter studies remain important because they combine artistic observation with early engineering analysis of flight.