They said it couldn't be done. But they were wrong! An ornithopter is a device that flies by flapping its wings - just like a real bird. How is it different from an airplane or helicopter? Those machines are driven by rotating airfoils. In an ornithopter, the driving airfoils have an oscillating motion instead. This imitates nature, because no animals have any rotating parts. There are several reasons for building ornithopters. One is that flapping wings are potentially more fuel-efficient than rotary-driven aircraft. You will find out why, as you read through this web site. People also build ornithopters because it gives them a sense of personal fulfillment. They find it exciting to move the technology forward. I set up this web site, the Ornithopter Zone, to help people in that quest. Check out the links on the left side of the page. You'll find video clips, how-to articles, free plans, and who knows what else. I know some people would rather fly an ornithopter than read about it, so there is also an online store. Ornithopters have been around a long time. The first successful ornithopter, the size of a pigeon, was flown in 1870. Ornithopters require more sophisticated technology than airplanes, so it was not until 1942 that a manned, engine-powered ornithopter was successfully flown (more info). There are also applications for unmanned ornithopters, like the the tiny spy-robots used by the military. Unmanned aircraft will become increasingly important in the future. A common myth about ornithopters is that they flap their wings to produce lift. In fact, most ornithopters produce lift in the same way as an airplane, relying on their forward motion through the air. Also like an airplane, lift and thrust functions are separated. The outer part of the wing provides thrust. The inner part of the wing produces lift. You can read more about how this works, elsewhere on the site. Apart from this web site, I publish a printed newsletter called Flapping Wings. The newsletter helps people around the world share their ornithopter design ideas, and it provides a permanent record of accomplishments in our field. What little we know about past ornithopter research has been very difficult to pull together from scattered sources. The newsletter helps ensure that our present research is not lost to future generations. If you sign up for the newsletter, you will be supporting this effort, and you will learn about all kinds of interesting ornithopter projects. Nathan Chronister The Ornithopter Zone (contact)

Ornithopter Examples

Ornithopter Hobbyists: For many years, hobbyists have enjoyed building and flying their own ornithopters. The ornithopter provides enduring satisfaction: Although it's now easy to get started in this hobby, you can go on and pursue an endless variety of more advanced projects.

Toy Ornithopters: Many people were first introduced to the ornithopter concept through a toy such as the classic Tim Bird from France, or one of the newer radio-controlled toy ornithopters.

Micro Air Vehicle Ornithopters: Researchers are working to reduce the size of ornithopters. Some of these tiny ornithopters can hover in place and carry useful payloads such as cameras. Typically these ornithopters are controlled by radio.

Manned Ornithopters: The ornithopter was originally conceived thousands of years ago, as a way for people to fly. Hot air balloons and airplanes were achieved first, due to their relative simplicity, but now several manned ornithopters have made successful flights.

Advanced Research: Flapping-wing flight continues to evolve, as evidenced by innovative research projects such as this ornithopter using a high-efficiency wing design.

Q: What is an "ornithopter"?
A: An ornithopter is a device that imitates the flapping-wing flight found in nature. The word "ornithopter" (c.1908) combines the ancient Greek words for "bird" and "wing". An ornithopter doesn't need to have feathers, though. What makes it birdlike is the flapping motion! Airplanes have a rotating propeller. Helicopters have a rotary wing that provides both lift and thrust. But animals don't have any rotating parts!

Q: Why flapping wings?
A: I build ornithopters because people are blown away when they see one of these machines, flying high overhead, doing something they thought was utterly impossible. There are practical benefits as well: flapping wings potentially offer improved efficiency, more lift, higher maneuverability, and reduced noise compared with the rotary-driven airplanes and helicopters.

Q: Have people ever flown in an ornithopter?
A: Yes. Adalbert Schmid's engine-powered manned ornithopters, flown in 1942 and 1947, were the most successful to date. Several other manned ornithopters have made successful flights. more

Q: How does an ornithopter fly?
A: The ornithopter works on the same principle as the airplane. The forward motion through the air allows the wings to deflect air downward, producing lift. The flapping motion of the wings takes the place of a rotating propeller. more

Q: Why doesn't the upstroke cancel out the downstroke?
A: The force produced by a wing depends on the angle the wing as held at, relative to its motion through the air. This is called the "angle of attack". During the upstroke, the angle of attack is reduced, keeping air resistance to a minimum. more

Q: Can I build my own ornithopter?
A: Yes! In fact, building an ornithopter is not as difficult as you might think. Many people build ornithopters as a hobby or school project. There are free plans on this web site, but you will have a better chance of success if you start with a kit.

Q: Where can I get funding to build a manned ornithopter?
A: I don't know of any funding sources. I can only suggest that if you build a working, radio-controlled model of your proposed design, that will probably make it much easier to get funding.
  

More About Ornithopters

For a good overview of what has been done in the field of flapping wing aircraft, visit our What's Been Done page. There, you will learn about the history of ornithopters, and you'll get some ideas for your own ornithopter designs. Also be sure to visit the How To links on the left side of this page, if you would like to build an ornithopter of your own.

Flapping wings can launch a great science fair investigation or school project. With today's simplified designs, it's even possible to hold a school contest where students compete for the longest flight times. Ornithopters are a really engaging, hands-on way for kids to learn about science. Visit our Teachers Guide or Science Fair page to find out more.