An ornithopter flies

Many people thinking of flight looked at birds and assumed that what was needed was a wing flapping craft.

I think it is hard to see how such a craft could be constructed with pre 1900 materials but it was not necassarily impossible.

If this had happened I wonder if it buttflies out the Wright concept and heavier than air flight might remain a very exotic form of travel.
 
The issue with getting a flapping plane going is mimicking the flight characteristics of the feathers of birds. but perhaps if you had a powerful enough engine. In some ways a helocopter is like this
 
I think this is ASB. The ornithopters did not fly. There is a question of wing surface area to mass, and the strength needed to generate enough flapping. Birds reduce their mass by, for example, having hollow bones.

KEVP
 
If this had happened I wonder if it buttflies out the Wright concept and heavier than air flight might remain a very exotic form of travel.
I think not. They wouldn't work well but, if they worked at all, heavier than air flight would be a proven concept and people would be looking for better ways. IMO, that would speed up discovery of airplanes. The only way that heavier than air is remains exotic is if the ornithopters discredit the concept too much for further development to be taken seriously.

Could happen that airfoils would be developed as a safety device, so that the 'thopter can glide if power is shut off.

I think this is ASB. The ornithopters did not fly.
Ornithopters have flown in modern times, hence they can fly. Ornithopters did not fly historically, which is why this is called alternate history.
 
Top