In
1486 Leonardo da Vinci began studying birds. Over the next few years
he speculated on mechanisms that could help man fly like a bird.
He made hundreds of drawings of propellers,
helicopters
and parachutes. In 1487 da Vinci designed
his first flying machine. At first his designs were based on the
way bird's flew. Later he realised this was impractical and produced
drawings of machines with fixed wings. He also experimented with
what later became known as gliders.
