The Washington herald., 1912-06-23
LEONARDODA YINCI
FIRST AERONAUT
Manuscript Found Showing that
italian Tried to Fly as
Well as Paint.

Paris. June A.-To-moTrow, the ami
versary OF the battle Of Solferino. which
was fought on June q. 1850 France and
Italy will unite in honoring the memory
Of Leonardo da Vinci. who four centuries
ago wrote a remarkable treatise on the
flight OF birds The manuscript went
through strange vicissitudes, and the
work was not published until 1893.
The great artist. who was not only
painter and sculptor, but also architect.
engineer. asd scientist, revealing his
genius in every one Of these capacities,
was the Guthor OF the first work on me
chanIcaI flight.
He conceived the idea OF screw pro-
pulsion: he invented the paddlewheel; he
designed a breech-loadinE gun, and 800
years ago, before Garnerin made the first
parachute descent. he demonstrated the
principle Of the parachute.
NJ. Milerand, the French War Minister,
has conferred with NJ. Rsqusni. the sec
retary Of the FrancO-Italian League
with regard to the coming commemora-
tion, and leading French and Italian SCI
entists, literary men, and artists will take
part in Il. under the presidency Of the
War Minister and the Italian Ambas-
sador.
Treatise on Flying.
Leonardo da vincrs treatise was writ
ten at Florence in 1906. II was among his
papers at his death, and was bequeathed
to his companion, Francesca MelzL 1t
accompanied the Leonardo da Vinci
manuscripts. to Paris by the orders OF
Napoleon in 1875 At the restitution OF
1915 only the COdice Atlantico. as II Is
called. was sent back 10 Milan. The
treatise on flight remained at the In
al Wmk n
Italy, bought by a Russian, and finally
published in Paris in 1888
In It are found the frst technical de-
signs for imitation wings In this ma
chine the aviator was to occupy a hori-
zontal position. and work the flying
strokes with his arms and feet by means
Of ropes passing over pulleys. The wings
resembled those of a bat, and consisted
Of several parts, which tapped together
in the upward stroke, and spread out on
the down stroke. A tail surface was
provided between the parted legs. Here
is a paragraph from Leonardo da Vincfs
treatise:
The bird should. with the help OF
the wind, raise itself to a great height.
and this will be its safety. because, al
though all the revolutions mentioned may
happen. there is time for II 10 recover
its equilibrium. provided its various
parts are capable OF strong resistance 30
that they may safely Withstand the fury
and impetus OF the descent, being pro-
vided with the safeguards mentioned,
with their rgaments OF strong tanned
leather and their tendons OF very strong
raw silk: and no one need trouble TO use
iron joints. because they split under the
strain Of a twist, or wear out, so that
there Is no need TO trouble about max
ing them"
There Is some reason to believe that
Leonardo da Vinci attempted practical
flight In the DE Subtilitate" of Je-
rome Cardan, who cast a horoscope for
Edward VI OF England, foretelling long
life to that monarch, the following pass
age occurred: It CfiighO has turned out
badly for the two who have recently
made a trial of It; Leonardo da Vinci,
OF whom have spoken, has attempted
to ny, but he was not successful He
was a great painter"