He was the first person to scientifically investigate flight, he was by no means the first or only person to think seriously about the problem. In the 15th century, people still believed that flight could be achieved by imitating birds. Virtually all the flying machines designed by Leonardo before 1500 are ornithopters, which have flexible wings like a bird. He concentrated on designing mechanical systems that would harness the physical power of the pilot to sustain both man and machine in flight. While his machines are powerful in appearance, they lack the sufficient power required for propulsion and are far too heavy to fly. Leonardo rarely deviated from the principle of beating wings in his inventions. One exception is the design for an “aerial screw”, which has led to false claim that he invented the helicopter.
From 1485 to 1490, Leonardo produced studies on loads of subjects, including nature, flying machines, geometry, mechanics, municipal construction, canals and architecture, designing everything from churches to fortresses. His studies contain designs for advanced weapons, including a tank and other war vehicles, various combat devices, and submarines. Even though he hated war, in Renaissance Italy war was hard to avoid, so Leonardo Da Vinci reluctantly designed and created some weapons during his lifetime. Such weapons include the armored car. The car was to be operated from inside by 8 men, who would turn the cranks to move the wheels. Leonardo invented a cannon with adjustable elevating arc; this weapon can be adjusted in height. The three barreled cannon which was invented by Leonardo was used during wars was better than a regular cannon because it could shoot more cannonballs quicker. A hull rammer was used to ram into enemy ships and was mostly used by assault troops and deep-sea divers. Leonardo invented a giant crossbow as well because it could hold more ammo and had more power than a normal crossbow. Like Leonardo’s giant crossbow, his multiple crossbow was very useful during wars, by being able to shoot more arrows at a time than a normal crossbow. As well as the weapons listed he also created grenades, missiles, machine guns, mortars, and other weapons.
From 1485 to 1490, Leonardo produced studies on loads of subjects, including nature, flying machines, geometry, mechanics, municipal construction, canals and architecture, designing everything from churches to fortresses. His studies contain designs for advanced weapons, including a tank and other war vehicles, various combat devices, and submarines. Even though he hated war, in Renaissance Italy war was hard to avoid, so Leonardo Da Vinci reluctantly designed and created some weapons during his lifetime. Such weapons include the armored car. The car was to be operated from inside by 8 men, who would turn the cranks to move the wheels. Leonardo invented a cannon with adjustable elevating arc; this weapon can be adjusted in height. The three barreled cannon which was invented by Leonardo was used during wars was better than a regular cannon because it could shoot more cannonballs quicker. A hull rammer was used to ram into enemy ships and was mostly used by assault troops and deep-sea divers. Leonardo invented a giant crossbow as well because it could hold more ammo and had more power than a normal crossbow. Like Leonardo’s giant crossbow, his multiple crossbow was very useful during wars, by being able to shoot more arrows at a time than a normal crossbow. As well as the weapons listed he also created grenades, missiles, machine guns, mortars, and other weapons.
Leonardo certainly had an uncanny ability to observe nature and record it. And to this he added a preternatural, even spooky determination. The first biographer of Leonardo da Vinci, Paolo Giovi, wrote in 1520: "in the medical faculty he learned to dissect the cadavers of criminals under inhuman, disgusting conditions...because he wanted [to examine and] to draw the different deflections and reflections of limbs and their dependence upon the nerves and the joints. This is why he paid attention to the forms of even very small organs, capillaries and hidden parts of the skeleton."