Moorabbin Air Museum

  • Home
  • News
  • History
  • Birthdays & Functions
  • Events
  • membership
  • Museum Collection
    • ENGINES >
      • ADC Cirrus II
      • ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY >
        • Armstrong Siddeley Genet
        • Armstrong Siddeley Python
        • Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba
        • Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah
      • Bristol Hercules
      • J.A.P. V4 Engine (1910)
      • Junkers Jumo
      • Kelly and Lewis V8 (1915)
      • PRATT AND WHITNEY >
        • Pratt & Whitney R1340 Wasp
        • Pratt & Whitney R1830 Twin Wasp
        • Pratt & Whitney R2000 Twin Wasp
        • Microturbo Cougar 022 Turbojet
      • ROLLS ROYCE >
        • Rolls Royce Avon
        • Rolls Royce Dart
        • Rolls Royce Derwent
        • Rolls Royce Kestrel
        • Rolls Royce Merlin
        • Rolls Royce Nene
      • SNECMA Atar
      • Warner Scarab
    • COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION >
      • CAC Avon Sabre A94-910
      • CAC Bell Kiowa Army Helicopter
      • CAC Boomerang A46-25
      • CAC CA31 Trainer
      • CAC Ceres VH-WOT
      • CAC Macchi MB326H A7-054
      • CAC P-51D Mustang
      • CAC Wackett A3-22
      • CAC Pazmany PL4 VH-XAP
      • CAC Winjeel A85-418
      • CAC Wirraway A20-10
    • D.A.P / G.A.F. AIRCRAFT >
      • DAP Mk21 Beaufighter
      • DAP Beaufort
      • GAF Canberra
      • GAF Jindivik
      • GAF Lincoln
      • GAF Mirage
      • GAF N22 Nomad
    • Naval / Military >
      • AACA 10 Wamira
      • B.E. 2A (Wings Only)
      • Bristol Sycamore
      • Consolidated PBY Catalina
      • Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk
      • De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth
      • De Havilland DH115 Vampire
      • De Havilland Sea Venom
      • Fairey Firefly
      • Fairey Gannet
      • General Dynamics F-111C
      • Gloster Meteor
      • Miles Messenger
      • NZ Aerospace Industries CT-4
      • Westland Wessex
    • Commercial Aircraft >
      • Boeing B737-200
      • Bristol Freighter
      • de Havilland DH104 Dove
      • Douglas DC-2
      • Douglas DC-3
      • Douglas DC-9 Flight Simulator
      • Vickers Viscount
    • Other Aircraft >
      • Ansett Link Trainer
      • Auster Aiglet
      • BA Swallow II
      • BAE Systems Kingfisher
      • Cavelier
      • Cessna 310
      • de Havilland Gipsy Moth
      • Dauphin 2 Helicopter
      • Desoutter II
      • Evans VP Volksplane
      • Flying Flea
      • Link Trainer
      • McKenna Heath Parasol
      • Percival Proctor
      • Periera Osprey 2
      • Sanders Veenstra Thermite
      • Southern Cross SC-1
      • ULA Wombat
      • Victa AirTourer 100
      • Yeoman Cropmaster
    • Gliders >
      • Bensen Gyrocopter
      • Duigan Replica >
        • The Duigan Family
        • Ready Models
        • The Duigan History
        • The Duigan History 2
        • The Duigan History 3
        • The Duigan History 4
      • Heron Primary Glider
      • Koltai Ornithopter
      • Skycraft Scout
  • ONLINE SHOP
    • **New**
    • Airplane Toys >
      • Airplane Toys
      • Gliders & Kites
      • Soft Toys
      • R/C Aircraft
    • Apparel
    • MODELS >
      • Starter Model Kits
      • Model Kits
      • Assembled Models
      • Metal Earth Model Kits
    • Building Bricks >
      • Airfix Quick Build
      • Sluban Building Bricks
      • Other Building Bricks
    • Souvenirs >
      • ANAM Souvenirs
      • RAAF Centenary Souvenirs
      • Pencil Sharpeners
      • Bumper Stickers
      • Coffee Mugs
      • Patches
      • Badges
      • Key Rings
      • Posters
    • Childrens Costumes
    • Books >
      • New Books
      • Pre Loved Books
    • Tins
    • Raffle Tickets
    • Gift Passes
    • **Sale**
  • Supporting the Museum
    • Our Supporters
  • Getting There
  • Contact the Museum

Koltai Ornithopter

PictureClick on image for larger version
Since people of the world first thought of flight, they looked to birds for inspiration as they saw the flapping of their wings giving them motion. All this is said to have started in 4000 BC when a wooden bird was built and later Icarus tried to emulate a bird by fastening feathers on his arms and attempted to fly, but as the story goes he went too close to the sun and the glue used on the feathers melted and he dropped to his doom.

Leonardo daVinci took up the challenge in the 15th Century AD creating drawings of flying machines with mechanically driven flapping wings because he realised that humans did not possess the strength necessary to propel themselves as Icarus had attempted to do. This then was the genesis of the Ornithopter, a mechanical device that flaps wings as a bird does to become and remain airborne.

Over the ensuing centuries many devices have been invented by eminent persons to enable man to attempt to fly like a bird, utilising his physical strength by either pedalling or actuating the device by pumping with the hands. None of these devices were successful except for a very few, very short “flights”, and the concept was eventually deemed not to be feasible.

Some power driven Ornithopters have in fact been successful in emulating birds, and models have also been successfully flown as Ornithopters.

It was not until in the early 21st century that human propelled flight did eventuate but using a conventional aircraft design constructed out of very light weight materials, and with the human turning a propellor by pedalling and thus providing forward movement.
​
The Museum has in storage one of the many unsuccessful human powered Ornithopter devices.


back
TECHNICAL DATA

Engine:             

Length:

​Span:               

Speed:

            



27hp Henderson engine

16 ft 9 in

​25 ft

73 mph








(4.88 m)

(8.23 m)

​(97 kmh)









 © 2022 Australian Aircraft Restoration Group. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • News
  • History
  • Birthdays & Functions
  • Events
  • membership
  • Museum Collection
    • ENGINES >
      • ADC Cirrus II
      • ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY >
        • Armstrong Siddeley Genet
        • Armstrong Siddeley Python
        • Armstrong Siddeley Double Mamba
        • Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah
      • Bristol Hercules
      • J.A.P. V4 Engine (1910)
      • Junkers Jumo
      • Kelly and Lewis V8 (1915)
      • PRATT AND WHITNEY >
        • Pratt & Whitney R1340 Wasp
        • Pratt & Whitney R1830 Twin Wasp
        • Pratt & Whitney R2000 Twin Wasp
        • Microturbo Cougar 022 Turbojet
      • ROLLS ROYCE >
        • Rolls Royce Avon
        • Rolls Royce Dart
        • Rolls Royce Derwent
        • Rolls Royce Kestrel
        • Rolls Royce Merlin
        • Rolls Royce Nene
      • SNECMA Atar
      • Warner Scarab
    • COMMONWEALTH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION >
      • CAC Avon Sabre A94-910
      • CAC Bell Kiowa Army Helicopter
      • CAC Boomerang A46-25
      • CAC CA31 Trainer
      • CAC Ceres VH-WOT
      • CAC Macchi MB326H A7-054
      • CAC P-51D Mustang
      • CAC Wackett A3-22
      • CAC Pazmany PL4 VH-XAP
      • CAC Winjeel A85-418
      • CAC Wirraway A20-10
    • D.A.P / G.A.F. AIRCRAFT >
      • DAP Mk21 Beaufighter
      • DAP Beaufort
      • GAF Canberra
      • GAF Jindivik
      • GAF Lincoln
      • GAF Mirage
      • GAF N22 Nomad
    • Naval / Military >
      • AACA 10 Wamira
      • B.E. 2A (Wings Only)
      • Bristol Sycamore
      • Consolidated PBY Catalina
      • Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk
      • De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth
      • De Havilland DH115 Vampire
      • De Havilland Sea Venom
      • Fairey Firefly
      • Fairey Gannet
      • General Dynamics F-111C
      • Gloster Meteor
      • Miles Messenger
      • NZ Aerospace Industries CT-4
      • Westland Wessex
    • Commercial Aircraft >
      • Boeing B737-200
      • Bristol Freighter
      • de Havilland DH104 Dove
      • Douglas DC-2
      • Douglas DC-3
      • Douglas DC-9 Flight Simulator
      • Vickers Viscount
    • Other Aircraft >
      • Ansett Link Trainer
      • Auster Aiglet
      • BA Swallow II
      • BAE Systems Kingfisher
      • Cavelier
      • Cessna 310
      • de Havilland Gipsy Moth
      • Dauphin 2 Helicopter
      • Desoutter II
      • Evans VP Volksplane
      • Flying Flea
      • Link Trainer
      • McKenna Heath Parasol
      • Percival Proctor
      • Periera Osprey 2
      • Sanders Veenstra Thermite
      • Southern Cross SC-1
      • ULA Wombat
      • Victa AirTourer 100
      • Yeoman Cropmaster
    • Gliders >
      • Bensen Gyrocopter
      • Duigan Replica >
        • The Duigan Family
        • Ready Models
        • The Duigan History
        • The Duigan History 2
        • The Duigan History 3
        • The Duigan History 4
      • Heron Primary Glider
      • Koltai Ornithopter
      • Skycraft Scout
  • ONLINE SHOP
    • **New**
    • Airplane Toys >
      • Airplane Toys
      • Gliders & Kites
      • Soft Toys
      • R/C Aircraft
    • Apparel
    • MODELS >
      • Starter Model Kits
      • Model Kits
      • Assembled Models
      • Metal Earth Model Kits
    • Building Bricks >
      • Airfix Quick Build
      • Sluban Building Bricks
      • Other Building Bricks
    • Souvenirs >
      • ANAM Souvenirs
      • RAAF Centenary Souvenirs
      • Pencil Sharpeners
      • Bumper Stickers
      • Coffee Mugs
      • Patches
      • Badges
      • Key Rings
      • Posters
    • Childrens Costumes
    • Books >
      • New Books
      • Pre Loved Books
    • Tins
    • Raffle Tickets
    • Gift Passes
    • **Sale**
  • Supporting the Museum
    • Our Supporters
  • Getting There
  • Contact the Museum