April 15, 2022
By Madhavi Pothukuchi
Did you know that Leonardo was obsessed with aviation? One of his favourite designs was the first helicopter, which he drew in 1493.
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Given his obsession with flying, it’s not surprising that he also invented one of the first prototypes of the parachute.
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Leonardo invented this self-supporting bridge for the Duke Ludovico Sforza in the 1480s. Troops could set it up, use it to cross, and pack it up easily.
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Unimpressed by slow weaponry at the time, Leonardo designed a multi-barrel cannon, which formed the base for the modern machine gun.
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Leonardo’s interest in flying things led him to question how to measure the speed of the wind – which led to the invention of the anemometer.
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Leonardo invented the giant catapult that could be used in warfare.
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Leonardo also designed the first armoured car or tank, which could be loaded with weapons and driven by six people.
Image source: Alamy