ornithopter

ornithopter
/awr'neuh thop"teuhr/, n.
a heavier-than-air craft designed to be propelled through the air by flapping wings.
[ < F ornithoptère (1908), equiv. to ornitho- ORNITHO- + -ptère < Gk -pteros -PTEROUS]

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 machine designed to fly by the flapping of its wings in imitation of birds. The wooden bird said to have been made about 400 BC by Archytas of Tarentum is one of the earliest examples. The Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus involves man's use of wings in the manner of birds. Leonardo da Vinci made many drawings and models of such aircraft in the late 15th century. Although a few short flights have been recorded, ornithopters remain impractical.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Ornithopter — Cybird radio controlled ornithopter Pa …   Wikipedia

  • ornithopter — 1908, from Fr. ornithoptère, a machine designed to fly be mechanical flapping of wings, from ORNITHO (Cf. ornitho ) (q.v.) + Gk. pteron wing (see PETITION (Cf. petition)). A mode of flight considered promising at least since Leonardo s day …   Etymology dictionary

  • ornithopter — [ôr′nə thäp΄tər] n. [< ORNITHO + Gr pteron, wing, FEATHER] an experimental type of aircraft designed to be propelled by the flapping of the wings …   English World dictionary

  • Ornithopter — Schwingflüglerversuch von 1902 Ein Ornithopter (von altgr. ὄρνιθος πτερόν, dtsch. Vogelflügel) ist ein Schwingflügel Flugzeug, das Auftrieb oder Vortrieb durch Bewegung der Tragflächen (Schlagflug) erzeugt. Eine Bedeutung hat der Ornithopter… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ornithopter — Ornithoptère Pour les articles homonymes, voir Ornithoptère (homonymie). Ornithoptère datant de 1902. Ornithoptère est le nom donné à une machine …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ornithopter — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary ornith + pter (as in helicopter) Date: 1908 an aircraft designed to derive its chief support and propulsion from flapping wings …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • ornithopter — noun /ˈɔː.nɪˌθɒp.tə,ˈɔɹ.nɪˌθɑp.tɚ/ An aircraft that generates lift through the flapping of its wings …   Wiktionary

  • Ornithopter — Or|ni|thọp|ter, der; s, [zu griech. pterón = Feder, Flügel] (Flugw.): experimentellen Zwecken dienendes Flugzeug, bei dem ↑Auftrieb (1) u. ↑Vortrieb (2) durch eine dem Flügelschlag der Vögel analoge Bewegung der ↑Flügel (2 b) erzeugt werden …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Ornithopter — Or|ni|thop|ter* der; s, <zu gr. pterón »Feder, Flügel«> Schwingenflügler; Experimentierflugzeug, dessen Antriebsprinzip dem des Vogelflugs gleicht …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • ornithopter — An aircraft that derives its lift by the flapping of wings or oscillating about any axis but not by rotating …   Aviation dictionary

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