Some time ago I built a flying model of Leonardo’s helicopter – so many people said it would never fly, but I had read that the original was based on a flying toy, and proceeded on that basis to make a toy using technology available in teh Renaissance period to make a flying model of Leonardo’s helicopter. And it worked (ok not very well, but it did work). You can see the results here…
You can buy commercial models, such as from Gakken in Japan, but I think it’s more interesting and fun to build your own at a fraction of the price 🙂
I’ve written elsewhere of my attempts to build a readily assembled model of Leonardo da Vinci’s helicopter, and since a number of people have written asking for more detailed instructions, I thought I’d finally put some instructions on my site. And for those who thought it would never generate sufficient lift to raise itself off the ground, perhaps a small video of two models will show that it really works!
Click on the image to go to the page with the movie and the instructions
Cheers
Jerry
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Another quick update on my model of Leonardo’s helicopter – I have made a larger diameter rotor and achieved a couple of flights across the room. The rotor diameter is now about 18cms (about 7.5 inches) and made from cereal box card. The helix winds one and a half times around (one circle plus a half, with the lower circle split along the radius to the centre and the extra half attached with masking tape. There was some sag, which I rectified with a masking tape brace – you will notice that Leonardo’s helicopter design had string braces to support the rotor structure – I guess he had problems with sag too 😉 Anyhow here is a picture of my model (current configuration as flown). The drive is the same spinning-top launcher that I was using before.
After receiving a great email from Joseph Harriott with a lot of detail about the aerodynamics, I thought I’d better let you know what I have found with the models. I have read in several sources that leonardo probably got his idea from a flying toy that has been traced back to about 100 years before Leonardo’s time. One can only guess at the way the toy was made, but it was likely to have been a version of a propellor on a stick or straw (perhaps bamboo). The email pointed out that IBM have built a version based on Leonardo’s drawing and he pointed me in the direction of the site related to the Pierre Gianadda Foundation’s Leonardo exhibition.
So to my version. Firstly, using an idea from a spinning top for propulsion, I made a basic model using thin dowel and cardboard. I tried using a disc with a slit cut and one side turned up and the other down – this resulted in a blast of air, but insufficient lift. then i added a further half circle and was quite amazed at the increase in lift. The model as shown lifts off for short hops. That is, it lifts itself clear of the launcher, rising about a foot or so (about 30cm) before landing on its point and falling over. I also tried considerably larger rotors cut from the lids of two pizza boxes, but found that there was too much inertia for the rest of the model, and I broke several strings, and then switched to fishing line – but that broke the main vertical shaft. So back to the original design, but I shall try larger ‘system cards’ for the rotor. I’ll let you know how I get on. Meanwhile – here is the basic model:
My model of Leonardo’s helicopter
Cheers Jerry
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Posted by jerry on November 26th, 2003 — Posted in History, Technology
Leonardo da Vinci was notorious for leaving out key details in his notebook designs – another aspect of his information security protocols (like writing backwards). But, given that at least some of his designs would seem to work, like his wooden air supply pipe for a diving helmet, it would seem reasonable to explore some of his other designs. The helicopter (yes power to weight ratio is clearly a problem) has a significant design flaw as it stands. At the moment, the pilot would push the capstan to rotate the rotor by applying force through feet to the floor. But once enough speed was achieved to provide lift, the floor would contra-rotate, leaving the pilot without anything to push against. Now picture Leonardo’s helicopter linked as a pair with a mirror image helicopter and now two pilots – they would be able to work together applying force against each other… I wonder if that might just get off the ground?
My model of Leonardo’s helicopter
