Biggles of 266
1st Level Red Feather
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Leonardo da Vinci inserted a series of deliberate flaws into his inventions, perhaps to prevent them being put to military use, a new television series says.
Some of the Renaissance genius's most revolutionary designs included a simple but correctable fault that only became apparent when they were built, the makers of the BBC-TV series Leonardo say.
Michael Mosley, the executive producer, said there could be two reasons for this "secretiveness". Firstly, there were no patent laws to protect his designs. Secondly, Leonardo was a pacifist who knew his warlord masters might seek military uses for his inventions.
Five designs - for a tank, glider, parachute, diving suit and robot - were built for the series by enthusiasts and tested by experts. When the tank, a tortoise-like contraption, was tested by the British army, it immediately became clear that its gears had been set against each other, Mr Mosley said.
The glider, similar to a modern hang-glider, was also flawed. Mr Mosley said: "The way he suggested you operated it was the exact opposite of what you should actually do and would have resulted in the pilot plunging to earth. But Leonardo studied birds and knew how their wings worked. It would have been aerodynamic madness to suggest what he did."
Similar problems hampered the other devices, Mr Mosley said. "All had flaws and didn't work first-off. Experts could just say he didn't understand the principles involved, but I find that implausible."
Mr Mosley believes the clue lies in one of the notes Leonardo made beside his aqualung design. It reads: "Knowing the evil in men's hearts they will learn how to kill men on the seabed."
Mr Mosley said: "He was a gay, vegetarian pacifist and the paradox is that he then goes and works for warlords. He was very aware that they might try to put his inventions to military use."
Da Vinci scattered his thoughts randomly throughout his work. While this would have helped to confuse anyone trying to build one of them, it could just as easily be put down to scattiness, Mr Mosley admitted.
The Telegraph, London
Some of the Renaissance genius's most revolutionary designs included a simple but correctable fault that only became apparent when they were built, the makers of the BBC-TV series Leonardo say.
Michael Mosley, the executive producer, said there could be two reasons for this "secretiveness". Firstly, there were no patent laws to protect his designs. Secondly, Leonardo was a pacifist who knew his warlord masters might seek military uses for his inventions.
Five designs - for a tank, glider, parachute, diving suit and robot - were built for the series by enthusiasts and tested by experts. When the tank, a tortoise-like contraption, was tested by the British army, it immediately became clear that its gears had been set against each other, Mr Mosley said.
The glider, similar to a modern hang-glider, was also flawed. Mr Mosley said: "The way he suggested you operated it was the exact opposite of what you should actually do and would have resulted in the pilot plunging to earth. But Leonardo studied birds and knew how their wings worked. It would have been aerodynamic madness to suggest what he did."
Similar problems hampered the other devices, Mr Mosley said. "All had flaws and didn't work first-off. Experts could just say he didn't understand the principles involved, but I find that implausible."
Mr Mosley believes the clue lies in one of the notes Leonardo made beside his aqualung design. It reads: "Knowing the evil in men's hearts they will learn how to kill men on the seabed."
Mr Mosley said: "He was a gay, vegetarian pacifist and the paradox is that he then goes and works for warlords. He was very aware that they might try to put his inventions to military use."
Da Vinci scattered his thoughts randomly throughout his work. While this would have helped to confuse anyone trying to build one of them, it could just as easily be put down to scattiness, Mr Mosley admitted.
The Telegraph, London
