One of Da Vinci's most iconic images, the Aerial Screw (also known as the ancestor of the helicopter) illustrates Da Vinci's ingenuity and obsession with flight (along with many other designs!). While this invention never flew for basic technical reasons, it allowed us to better understand how Leonardo considered the issue of flight and human propulsion, defining him as a man of science and inventor well ahead of his time. While it is often referred to as the ancestor of the helicopter, the premise of the lifting force comes rather from the Archimedes screw while it is the rotors that operate the real helicopters. Our model uses one of the bevel gears from Leonardo's books and creates a double gear ratio compared to the crank, so that the mast spins quickly, illustrating how this machine would have worked.

Accompanied by extra interesting facts about how Leonardo would have wanted it to work!

38 cm high and 23 cm wide.

Each piece is pre-cut and pre-drilled to facilitate and solidify assembly.

100% natural and safe: made of natural and untreated wood, without paint or coating!

Easy to follow instructions!

Recommended for ages 8 and up