There were even stories written about humans taking flight; dreams of escape,
adventure, and liberation were surrounded by this intriguing concept. The story of
Icarus is an example of how flight wove its way into the imaginations of men.
Daedalus, architect and inventor who designed for King
Minos of Crete the labyrinth in which was imprisoned the Minotaur, a
man-eating monster that was half man and half bull. The labyrinth was so skill
fully designed that no one could escape from the maze or the Minotaur.
Daedalus revealed the secret of the labyrinth only to Ariadne, daughter of
Minos, and she aided her lover, the Athenian hero Theseus, to slay the
monster and escape. In anger at the escape, Minos imprisoned Daedalus and
his son Icarus in the labyrinth. Although the prisoners could not find the
exit, Daedalus made wax wings so that they could both fly out of the maze.
Icarus, however, flew too near the sun; his wings melted, and he fell in
to the sea. Daedalus flew to Sicily, where he was welcomed by King Cocalus.
Minos later pursued Daedalus but was killed by the daughters of Cocalus.
(early 1480's - 1519) Leornado da Vinci described the term renaissance man,
simply because he was an artist, a scientist, a mathematician, and an
engineer! He studied the birds dreaming of flying with their grace and ease.
He analyzed their anatomy and how it related to flight. He designed winged
flying machines, helicopters and parachutes that have a striking
resemblance to the pioneering contraptions of the 19th century. Some even
believe that he succeeded in flying small, spring-powered helicopters.