Model of Leonardo Da Vinci's 15th century proposed helicopter

Made:
1480-1519 in Italy
Model of proposed Leonardo da Vinci Helicopter

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Model of proposed Leonardo da Vinci Helicopter
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Model of proposed Leonardo da Vinci Helicopter

This model was constructed from a sketch for a helicopter design by Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519). The ancient Chinese made hand-spun toys that rose upward like a helicopter when revolved rapidly, but Leonardo's helicopter is the earliest known design to envision a machine to carry a man and its own 'power unit'. Like many other designs after his, Leonardo's worked theoretically but would have been impractical in full-sized form.

Details

Category:
Aeronautics
Object Number:
1952-287
Measurements:
overall: 340 mm x 350 mm x 350 mm,
type:
aircraft, helicopters, autogiros and rotary-wing aircraft
credit:
Goacher Model Engineering Ltd