ornithopter

Also known as flapping-wing aircraft

thumb|Pteryx Skybird radio-controlled ornithopter

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Commons category: Ornithopters

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~21 min read

Article

11 sections

Contents

Early history
Crewed flight
Applications for uncrewed ornithopters
Hobby
Aerodynamics
Wing design
In fiction
See also
References
Further reading
External links

thumb|Pteryx Skybird radio-controlled ornithopter

An ornithopter () is an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings. Designers sought to imitate the flapping-wing flight of birds, bats, and insects. Though machines may differ in form, they are usually built on the same scale as flying animals. Larger, crewed ornithopters have also been built and some have been successful. Crewed ornithopters are generally powered either by engines or by the pilot.