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Leonardo Divinci (b1452-d1519) was born in Anchiano, Italy. He was the illegitimate son of a public notary and his father's mistress, Caterina. Besides being a notable painter of the 'Last Supper' and the 'Monolisa', Divinci was also an aviation visionary. His numerous detailed drawings depicted flying machines before flying was thought possible. Divinci is quoted as saying 'For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.'
Between 1483 and 1486, Divinci detailed an 'Aerial Screw' that is seen by some as the ancestor to the helicopter. The drawing depicts a circular wing providing lift. Lift is obtained by four men on a platform turning the screw. Realistically, this machine would have of never left the ground because the four men could have of not provided enough power. Theoretically, if enough power was supplied, it is possible that this machine could have of flown.
After contemplating the amount of man-power required to lift an aircraft vertically, Divinci's ideas soon became fascinated with gliding machines that would fly without the need for vertical propulsion. Based upon the wings of a bat, Divinci's manuscript details a pair of wings attached to the pilot by means of straps.
Besides the numerous sketches of flying machines, he also was concerned with the design of apparatus that would assist the pilot. He sketched an anemometer that would measure the speed and direction of the wind to assist in determining when to fly. Divinci's sketches of a parachute shows that he might of had had some doubt to the stability of his aircraft.
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