Several attempts to fly ornithopters, intended to fly by flapping of wings. They manage to move their wings but fail in attempts to fly. The largest of them might be Gustav Lilienthal's large ornithopter, which was demonstrated in Germany and had a 3 horse power motor.
History of early flight and historic early attempts in aviation. Men run beside a seven-winged airplane as it begins to move in front of a hangar building. The aircraft collapses into pieces on the ground. before attaining speed.
Early attempts at flight during history of aviation. The Pitt Sky Car ornithopter device is seen: A car equipped with an umbrella-like rotor intended for vertical takeoff. 'Sky car' written on a cloth sign on the chassis of the aircraft. A man in aviator's clothing seated at the controls of the machine. The powerful motions of the pulsating rotor cause the machine to rise several inches. But it simply drops to the ground again. This happens with each oscillation of the rotor. (The motor-rotor devise was invented by John W. Pitts, of Detroit, Michigan, and patented in 1926. However, as seen in these images, it was a failure.)
Three rockets are adjusted on a metal holder fastened to the back of an ice skater. View of rocket ignition control fastened on skater's belt. He presses button to close battery circuit and ignite rockets. He leans forward and starts to be propelled by the rockets. But the skater loses his balance in the humorous stunt and falls on the ice, with the rockets still firing.
Early attempts of aviation. Views of a man using bicycle-type pedals to power an airplane. View of the machine atop a launching ramp. Two men assist as the operator pedals and the machine moves down the ramp. The would-be airplane simply falls off the end of the ramp onto the ground. The attempt is repeated with the same results.
Scenes of vintage, historic, early aviation flight attempts: Men at controls of several unsuccessful ornithopter aircraft, intended to fly by flapping wings. One man rides a bicycle equipped with wings that he flaps using sticks by his handle bars. Another sits in a tub-like machine with tricycle wheels, as it "flaps" its wings. In a third scene, men assist as operator moves very large wings on a machine. Although the wings move, the machine doesn't. This large machine might be Gustav Lilienthal's ornithopter. It had a 3 horse-power motor. Location might be Berlin's Tempelhof Airport, around 1927
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