You've always watched with fascination as birds fly. Now you've discovered these machines that capture that same beautiful and magnificent method of flight. It's only a matter of time before you'll need to feel the excitement of building your own ornithopter and watching it climb into the sky.

Rubber Band Powered Ornithopters

The least expensive way to get started in this new hobby is with a simple, rubber-band-powered ornithopter. These little birds are "free flight", meaning without radio control. You can buy a ready-made toy that flies fairly well, or you can build your own ornithopter from a kit. The light balsa wood construction of these models gives them much better performance.

Especially for beginners, our new Falcon kit makes it easier than ever to get started building your own ornithopters or flying bird models. Based on Nathan Chronister's classic Freebird design, it has some new plastic parts that allow fast and easy construction. There is no need to bend any wire, or glue strips of tissue onto the wood. As a result, it's super easy to build, and it flies great too! It can even be used for school projects.

Other kits available from our online store offer more challenge and interesting features such as four wings or a more realistic appearance. The series of kits will teach you the skills you need to develop your own ornithopters later on.

Falcon

Luna

These rubber-band-powered ornithopter kits are available from our online store.

Once you begin to develop your own ornithopter designs, whether they are freeflight or radio controlled, you may want to read the Ornithopter Design Manual for some important information on ornithopter design and construction.

Radio-Controlled Ornithopters

Now, let's talk about radio-controlled (RC) ornithopters. These are far more complex than the rubber-band-powered variety. However, you can buy an RC ornithopter already assembled. You can take it out of the box and have it ready to fly in a matter of minutes. Because of this, RC ornithopters are a good first step into the world of flapping flight. You can read about specific models, like the Cybird shown here, in our online store.

Most RC ornithopters are powered by an electric motor. This gives them plenty of power, and it makes them much quieter and more convenient than the early internal-combustion-powered ornithopters. Various rechargeable battery types can be used in electric ornithopters. Lithium-polymer batteries are the best choice for RC ornithopters. These batteries require a special charger, but the higher power-to-weight ratio makes it worth the investment.

Ornithopter radio systems are identical to those used in RC airplanes. The controls are the same, so if you can fly an RC plane, you can fly an RC ornithopter. Most ornithopters have a fan-shaped, birdlike tail that's used for steering. Servos are the small motors that move the tail. Very small RC ornithopters may use magnetic actuators instead of servos. The tail tilts left and right, for steering. It may also move up and down, like the elevator on an RC plane. You also control the flapping rate of your RC ornithopter. Increased throttle causes the ornithopter to climb higher. Decreased throttle causes the ornithopter to come down. In some RC ornithopters, you can stop the wings for gliding.

Some toy RC ornithopters like the Dragonfly are sold as a full set with all the required equipment. In other cases, you may need to buy the radio system and other components separately. If so, here is what you will need:

• radio transmitter
• radio receiver
• servos, usually one or two
• frequency crystal
• speed control
• battery
• charger

When you buy a radio system, it usually comes with the first four items. If you already have a transmitter, you can buy the receiver and servos separately. You also need a frequency crystal that matches the frequency of your transmitter. This is a small plug that fits into the receiver and tunes it to the correct radio frequency.

Most radio controlled ornithopters require a lightweight receiver and servos of a particular size. Also make sure you get the correct battery and speed control for your ornithopter. The motor is usually included with the ornithopter. Most ornithopters are sold ARF (almost ready to fly) so all you have to do is install the radio components and put on the wings and tail. Then have a blast flying the ornithopter and watching it draw the attention of spectators and real birds!