Introduction
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Getting Started
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Competition Info
Design Manual
What's Been Done
Articles & Plans
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How Birds Fly
Teachers Guide
Web Site Links
Software
About This Site
Contact Info


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Machines
That Fly Like a Bird!
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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)
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Ornithopter
Examples
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Advanced
Research: Flapping-wing flight continues to evolve, as
evidenced by innovative research projects such as this ornithopter
using a high-efficiency wing design.
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Frequently
Asked Questions
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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.
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.
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