1126

On Flying machines.

An object offers as much resistance to the air as the air does to the object. You may see that the beating of its wings against the air supports a heavy eagle in the highest and rarest atmosphere, close to the sphere of elemental fire. Again you may see the air in motion over the sea, fill the swelling sails and drive heavily laden ships. From these instances, and the reasons given, a man with wings large enough and duly connected might learn to overcome the resistance of the air, and by conquering it, succeed in subjugating it and rising above it. [Footnote: A parachute is here sketched, with an explanatory remark. It is reproduced on Tav. XVI in the Saggio, and in: Leonardo da Vinci als Ingenieur etc., Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Technik und der induktiven Wissenschaften, von Dr. Hermann Grothe, Berlin 1874, p. 50.]

Taken from The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci edited by Jean Paul Richter, 1880.

Notebooks of Leonoardo da Vinci
XVIII: Naval Warfare.--Mechanical Appliances.--Music.
. . .
The ship’s logs of Vitruvius, of Alberti and of Leonardo.
1113
Methods of staying and moving in water.
1114
On naval warfare.
1115,
1116
The use of swimming belts.
1117
On the gravity of water.
1118
Diving apparatus and Skating.
1119,
1120,
1121
On Flying machines.
1122,
1123,
1124,
1125,
1126
Of mining.
1127
Of Greek fire.
1128
Of Music.
1129,
1130
Of decorations.
1131