
Leonardo Da Vinci (c1492)Leonardo Da Vinci worked as an artist. He made an extensive study of Human Biology in order to improve his pictures. He was a great observer of the world around him. He used cadavers (dead bodies) to sketch details of human anatomy in order to know how the body works. He also studied nature with equal curiosity and like many people before and after he was fascinated by flight. He realised there were problems with using arm power to fly. |
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| This had to do with the size of pectoral muscles. Birds pectorals are 35% of their body weight! Men would have to have massive chest muscles! This is obviously impossible. |
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| The weight of human bones is also much greater than that of bird bones. His flying machine utilised the leg muscles. |
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Leonardo's drawing of his leg powered flying machine |