Building An Ornithopter, Canada

Around 1890, Lawrence Hargrave built several ornithopters powered by steam or compressed air. He introduced the use small flapping wings providing the thrust for a larger fixed wing. This eliminated the need for gear reduction, thereby simplifying the construction. To achieve a more birdlike appearance, this approach is not generally favored today.
In the 1930s, Erich von Holst carried the rubber band powered bird model to a high state development and great realism. Also in the 1930s, Alexander Lippisch and other researchers in Germany harnessed the piston internal combustion engine.
Manned ornithopters fall into two general categories: Those powered by the muscular effort the pilot (human-powered ornithopters), and those powered by an engine.