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Re: Ornithopter
People may have failed to produce operational manned ornithopter
_vehicles_, but man-made lightweight operational ornithopters have flown
successfully. For examples, see Peter Wellnhofer's _The Illustrated
Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs_, pp. 174-175.
Page 174 shows a flying _Rhamphorynchus_ model, constructed in 1956 by
Professor Erich von Holst, which was made of balsa wood, rice paper, and
wire, and powered by a rubber band. The following page reports on the 1/2
scale flying _Quetzalcoatlus_ model produced by Dr. Paul MacCready and his
team from Aerovironment, Inc., which utilized radio control, an autopilot
system, sensors, and two battery-powered motors to flap the wings.
Flapping bird toys are further examples. Some go by the name "Tim."
-- Ralph Miller III gbabcock@best.com
Fly like an eagle.