Leonardo da Vinci was much more than an artist. He was an astronomer, sculptor, geologist, mathematician, botanist, inventor, engineer, architect and even a musician. He was fascinated with the idea of free-flight and conceived wondrous designs including the ornithopter, the helicopter, the parachute, the propeller and a prone position glider. It is said that an impatient apprentice tried to fly a glider off a tower before it or he was ready and hit the dust big time. Da Vinci then canceled all further flight plans and ceased all flying experiments. Wonder if his dreams, so vivid and realistic, ceased as well.

What is astounding though is the time in which these designs were created. Da Vinci's life spanned the mid-15th century and into the early 16th century. It would be some 300-400 years later before Da Vinci's ideas would be improved upon or even fathomed. It is a true wonder that a man born of poverty could, 4 centuries earlier, conceive ideas that were to be a basis for our modern world today.

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