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Noted in Passing: Made for each other

Check out his wheels.

Pettigrew and a version of his ornithopter; the woman may be Elsie Bell Pettigrew (née Gray), philanthropist, founder of the Bell Pettigrew Museum of natural sciences, and his wife. — The Spiralist The Public Domain Review

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  • jwm August 9, 2021, 8:18 PM

    I see enthusiasm in his face, and forbearance in hers.
    Wonder if he ever got off the ground…
    JWM

  • Vanderleun August 9, 2021, 8:22 PM

    “The ornithopter covered a distance of about twenty meters during its maiden flight before crashing, breaking both the contraption’s spiral whalebone wings and its pilot’s own spiral hip. Convalescence gave Dr. Pettigrew the opportunity to begin work on Design in Nature: Illustrated by Spiral and Other Arrangements in the Inorganic and Organic Kingdoms as Exemplified in Matter, Force, Life, Growth, Rhythms, &c., Especially in Crystals, Plants, and Animals.

  • gwbnyc August 10, 2021, 3:03 AM

    I’m put to mind of Otto Lilienthal’s beautiful glider-

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4476fe9c3afc5acdd41517ed8c284d9d0856676292737cc9e3896b83f654b7f0.jpg

    .-and of Langley’s misadventure.

  • Dirk August 10, 2021, 7:57 AM

    In a 100 ish short years look what’s been accomplished, imagine, what will be in the next 100 years!

    VI

  • ghostsniper August 10, 2021, 1:13 PM

    Is that Casey Monet inside that thing?