Code of Flight of Birds

Produced between 1505 and 1506, the Codex on the Flight of Birds collects Leonardo da Vinci’s observations on the mechanics of flight. With a meticulous analysis of wing movement, air currents and the anatomical structure of birds, Leonardo lays the foundations for understanding aerodynamics. In this manuscript, his attempts to design a flying machine based on the natural principles of flight emerge, anticipating research in the field of aviation by centuries.