Quote:
Originally Posted by Willi Von Klugerman
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The Bartlett Flapping Machine
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Information published on the internet is not necessarily correct, so the identification of this machine as the '
Bartlett Flapping Machine' is a blooper
I wrote a mail to the holder of the site who identifies it that way, but as ever got no response and the false information remains.
This beauty of a machine is the
Ornithoptère of Monsieur
Collomb photographed in January 1908 by the famous French photographer Maurice-Louis Branger. The intention of Collomb was to get a flapping action with his wings of 150 cycles / minute.
Sure the technology of 1908 was not up to this class and the machine remained firmly on the ground. Also aerodynamically the machine was not up to it, given the choice of Collomb for 'venetian blinds' (lamelles). The design and construction of the machine must have cost a small fortune in those times, inclusive the fitted engine.
There is another picture of the machine of Collomb with the wings in the lowest position.
The ornithoptere issue has been in and out of interest during a century, but recently it has come on its own with for instance small insect like machines used for military reconnaissance. Technology seems to be up to the problem now. But one of the forerunners was Monsieur Collomb.
Have a fine day
Kees