Real-life Ornithopter to Take Flight?

A reader writes "According to this article at space.com, researchers at the University of Toronto have designed and built a working ornithopter. Their design will (hopefully) lift off solely powered by the motion of its articulated wings. First envisaged by Leonardo da Vinci, many will recall ornithopers' prominent role in Frank Herbert's Dune books. The U. Toronto Ornithopter project page is is found at ornithopter.net." "Usul ^? , Base of the Pillar"

Comments

The (slashdotted) article

[3prong]

Ornithopter

Advanced design is relying on nature's model more and more: from "fish scales" that speed up boats, to robotic actuators that limber up synthetic muscles and joints. But the oldest concept of how a machine would fly, based on the action of bird's wings, still hasn't taken flight.

Envisioned first by Leonardo Da Vinci in the 1500's, an "orinthopter's" major design dilemma is getting the up an down motion of the wings to be strong enough for lift off, while not destroying the body of the plane in the process. Modern piloted ornithopters, despite Kevlar and Plexiglas, are thus still on the ground.

But researchers at the University of Toronto's Institute for Aerospace Studies claim their machine will either get off the ground in the next few weeks, or prove that a bird-brained plane is an impossible design challenge.

"It's been a balancing act, challenging the aerodynamics and structural dynamics," said Derek Bilyk, an engineer who came to the project as a graduate student three years ago. " This fall, we will have taken the aircraft to the limits of its performance, but we're pretty sure it's gonna fly; ninety percent sure."

The researchers have reason to be optimistic. The ornithopter did achieve a take-off speed of 55 miles-per-hour last month, powered only by an engine and its bird wings. But the bouncing of the craft was reportedly very uncomfortable for the pilot and may have shaken the plane toward destruction and so the plane was stopped.

Bilyk revealed the landing gear has since gone through a redesign to make it more shock-absorbent, which the eight man team believes will make a viable aircraft, albeit a likely commercial flop.

"I can't think of a good commercial use for it," lamented Bilyk. "But nobody has been successful at it, and yet it the oldest dream of flight."

http://www.ornithopter.net/index.html

Re:hmm, strange opening paragraph

[charon_on_acheron]

So, explain how a "barnstormer" plane can fly upside-down. If their wing has a curved top surface, and a flat bottom surface, when they are upside down the "lift" would be in the Earthward direction. They would bury themselves into the dirt within seconds.

(I am not a pilot or barnstormer, but asked a pilot about this a few months ago after an air-race. This is the gist of his answer.)

To avoid this, barnstorming planes use a different wing. Their wings are shaped symetrically, top-to-bottom. Both surfaces are the same, and give the same flight characteristics, no matter which way they are oriented. It is up to the pilot to keep the right angle so that the passing air pushes the plane up. No easy job when your upside-down, going 60 mph (??), with that long scarf flapping around your head.

Not saying the lift principle of an asymmetric wing is not valid, but it is not the only wing shape in use.