Ornithopter

An ornithopter is a "beating-wing" air vehicle, one that uses mechanical wings to produce both thrust and lift.
== Stat Examples ==
As they are mechanically very complex, ornithopters tend to show up in steampunk settings where mechanical complexity is a non-issue. In slightly more grounded steampunk settings, ornithopters are still the only vertical-takeoff vehicles, but have worse handling, stability and health than any comparable helicopter. 
=== The Steampunk Two-Seater ===
This 'thopter uses a cubic foot chunk of coal (50 lbs, $1) to run a complex six-expansion steam engine pushing an absurdly complex triplane ornithopter system. It can't take off completely vertically, but it still has a low stall speed allows it to nearly hover if facing against the wind.
From Steampunk Conveyances, p.17
=== DaVincian Oil-Piston Flyer ===
This TL6+1 design uses an internal combustion engine and some mechanical shenanigans to explain its remarkable flight capabilities. Pyramid #3/46: Weird Science, p.26
== Ornithopters of Infinite Worlds ==
* Bird-like, bronze ornithopters could be found on Haussman-2. They didn't work in an ordinary atmosphere, perhaps requiring some atmospheric or supernatural element to fly.Infinite Worlds, p.5
* Surpsisingly, Britannica-6 lacks ornithopters—it seems the mechanical drivetrains are too heavy or flimsy to work. Supposedly.
* Was used by Enrico Giovanni to escape Mussolini on the WWII mad-science world of Igor-1.
* There are rumors of a gryphon-shaped ornithopter on a clockpunk version of Florence
* The CA-90 Titan Eagle is popular among tourists and residents of Titan in Transhuman Space.
== Notes ==
* Ornithopters are rather unusual vehicles and require their own specialty of Piloting.Vehicles: Steampunk Conveyances, p.15
* Ornithopters may count as Utility Aircraft for the purposes of Mass Combat.Mass Combat, p.18 
== See Also ==
* Fantasy Tech 1: The Edge of Reality, p.19-20
* GURPS Fantasy, p.142
* The Skystone Castle and Other Wonders
== References ==
Category:Vehicles