Over 500 years ago, Leonardo da Vinci conceptualized a self-powered flying machine that would achieve both lift and thrust with flapping wings alone and named it the “ornithopter”. Since ancient times, mankind has envisioned themselves in flight, much like a bird. However, until now, most attempts to fly by flapping wings, either using human muscle or mechanical power have failed.

Hot on the heels of the 100th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers flight, and the recent X prize won by Burt Rutan for civilian, privately funded space flight, a team of scientists, engineers, and historians in Toronto have taken on this challenge to make Leonardo’s dream a reality.
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