Patent ID: 7255305

Claim:
A device for flying through air comprising: (a) a body, (b) at least one flexible wing having a flexible trailing edge and a spar, wherein the spar has a crook, wherein the crook has a substanitially sharply curved configuration at a location proximal to said body, (c) a pumping means whereby said at least one flexible wing is in translationally fixed communication with said body and extends substantially laterally from said body to a distal free end therby substantially forming a natural vertically oscillating springboard having a unique natural frequency of oscillation and whereby vertical deflection of said at least one flexible wing by said pumping means creates a restoring force in an opposing direction to said at least one flexible wing and whereby said pumping means repeatedly applies a force on said at least one flexible wing at an oscillatory rate substantially consistent with said natural frequency of oscillation of said springboard thereby causing said at least one flexible wing to substantially vertically flap and said flexible trailing wing edge of said flexible wing to displace air in a substantially rearward direction producing thrust and causing movement of said device through air in a forward direction and whereby said substantially sharply curved configuration of said at least one flexible wing at a location proximal to said body reduces vertical forces produced on said body during oscillation of said at least one flexible wing.