Da Vinci Air Screw / Helicopter wooden model

One of Leonardo’s most iconic images, the Aerial Screw (also known as the helicopter) illustrates the ingenuity of da Vinci, and  his obsession with flying (along with many other drawings!). While this idea may never have got off the ground, for some basic technical reasons, it gave us an insight into the different ways in which Leonardo considered the challenge of human powered flying, and defines him as an inventor well ahead of his time.

While it is often referred to as a helicopter, the premise of the lift to make it rise is more like Archimedes’ screw than the rotors of a real helicopter. Our model uses one of the bevel gears he drew in his codices and creates a nice 2 to 1 increase in speed of the crankshaft, so the mast spins quickly, illustrating the manner in which this machine would have worked.

• Lots of interesting information about the way it would have worked too!
• Stands 15 inches tall and 9 inches across.
• All pieces pre-cut and ready to assemble for ease of assembly and strength. (no batteries!)
• The canopy and support structure can be removed for experimenting.
• Easy to follow instructions
• All natural and untreated wood, without paint or coatings on any piece!
• Construction time: 1-2 hours
• 8 years and older