First Human Powered Ornithopter

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"Flash60601" wrote:

"Alan Baker" wrote in message
...
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CaveLamb wrote:

Steve Hix wrote:
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TonyW wrote:

On 10/6/2010 2:43 AM, wrote:
http://acidcow.com/pics/13751-made-b...23-pics-1-vide
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Karl
Not the first, it was done 30 years ago, Google Gossamer Albatross.

GA was prop-driven, not an ornithopter (thrust from wing flapping).

This one doesn't seem to have enough power to take off on its own, but
enough to
barely maintain level flight.

Mildly creepy looking under weigh; looks like a sailplane with severe
low-frequency flutter.


This one was not an ornithopter either...
It just LOOKS like one...

How do you conclude that?

--
Alan Baker
Vancouver, British Columbia
http://gallery.me.com/alangbaker/100008/DSCF0162/web.jpg


Well, to be atrue ornithopter, its takeoff would not be towed by an
automobile, for the first thing.
And secondly, it should be able to sustain flight by flapping. This thing
was simply a unique-looking glider with wings that flexed a bit in ground
effect, after the car towing it got it moving.

It may indeed be a comendable piece of aerdymanic ingenuity, but an
"ornithopter it is NOT.

Flash

You're reaching a little bit, I think.

It was definitely flapping its wings and the folks who built it know how
to make that work. They based it on a powered ornithopter that achieved
flight on its own from a standing start.

--
Alan Baker
Vancouver, British Columbia
http://gallery.me.com/alangbaker/100008/DSCF0162/web.jpg