Codex on the Flight of Birds

Codex on the Flight of Birds is a relatively short codex from c. 1505 by Leonardo da Vinci.^[1]

It comprises 18 folios and measures 21 × 15 centimetres. Now held at the Royal Library of Turin, the codex begins with an examination of the flight behavior of birds and proposes mechanisms for flight by machines. Leonardo constructed a number of these machines, and attempted to launch them from a hill near Florence. However, his efforts failed.^[2]

In the codex, Leonardo notes for the first time that the center of gravity of a flying bird does not coincide with its center of pressure.

^ Pedretti, C. (1962). Chronology of Leonardo da Vinci's Architectural studies after 1500 (a). Travaux d'humanisme et Renaissance. E. Droz. p. 37. ISBN 978-2-600-02993-3. Retrieved 14 April 2019. The date of the Codex on the Flight of Birds is ascertained by the note on the last folio facing the architectural design on the cover: 1505, 14th and 15th April.
^ Cremante, 53

[Pedretti_1962_p._37-1] Pedretti, C. (1962). Chronology of Leonardo da Vinci's Architectural studies after 1500 (a). Travaux d'humanisme et Renaissance. E. Droz. p. 37. ISBN 978-2-600-02993-3. Retrieved 14 April 2019. The date of the Codex on the Flight of Birds is ascertained by the note on the last folio facing the architectural design on the cover: 1505, 14th and 15th April.

[2] Cremante, 53

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