1960. Spencer collaborated with Jack Stephenson to build the Orniplane. This was the first radio-controlled ornithopter. It now resides at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT. Spencer sought funding to build a manned version. The biplane wing configuration was to provide a smoother ride for the pilot and also protected the sensitive early radio equipment. Reportedly, Spencer's colleague Dale Anderson later converted one of Spencer's Seagull ornithopters to radio control as well, using the improved radio equipment of the 1980s.
		1984. Valentin Kiselev's radio controlled, tandem-wing ornithopter is shown. This ornithopter was powered by an internal combustion engine. Kiselev also flew some of the first electric ornithopters.
		1986. Despite being underpowered, Paul MacCready's QN pterosaur replica achieved new levels of realism and demonstrated active stabilization methods like those used by birds and other flying animals. The otherwise-unstable ornithopter had an onboard computer to keep it from going into a spin. The flight path was controlled by radio.
		1990. Horst Rabiger's radio controlled ornithopter EV7 was a technical marvel, using thick-airfoil wings, pneumatic energy storage, and actively controlled torsion of the wings. It was powered by an electric motor.
		1991. James DeLaurier and Jeremy Harris flew a large radio-controlled ornithopter, powered by internal combustion. The wing appeared similar to the EV7's, but it used passive aeroelastic control of the wing twisting.
		1998. Sean Kinkade's Skybird was the first commercially produced radio-controlled ornithopter. It introduced a ratcheting wing lock mechanism that allowed gliding flight. A clutch allowed the 0.15 methanol-fueled engine to remain at idle while gliding, so the wings could restart during the flight.
		1998. Albert Kempf's Truefly ornithopter used electric power and actively twisted foam wings.