Jean Jacques Bourcart’s Ornithopter

Illustration by Jean Jacques Bourcart for an ornithopter design, proposed in 1866. The design used human-powered wings, and it was originally called Vélocipède Aérien.

Pictured above is a series of studies for a flying machine, proposed in 1866 by the French industrialist Jean Jacques Bourcart. Titled Vélocipède Aérien, the drawings show variations on an ornithopter design, in which a human pilot flaps the wings of the craft in order to fly. The subtitle of the illustration reveals that these are studies, tests and inventions which, without solving the problem of aviation, have nevertheless given interesting and encouraging results to the author. Bourcart knew his designs couldn’t fly; still, they’re interesting and well-designed objects, and he definitely put much thought into them.

We now know that human muscles alone aren’t enough to power a heavier-than-air machine. The weight-to-strength ratio of the human body doesn’t add up equally, so Bourcart was right in assuming his designs wouldn’t be able to fly. I do love his studies though, because it’s clear he was investigating the problem in earnest, with all the smaller vignettes flanking the central design drawings. I also like the insect-like quality of his wing designs, which adds a bit of whimsy to the page.

Read more about other ideas for flying machines here.