The Dream of Flying

Medieval Arab Flying Machine

Medieval Islamic science has enriched universal culture through numerous ingenious creations. One of the most important inventions is the glider constructed by Abbas
Ibn Firnas in the 9th century. According to historical sources, he launched himself from a mountain and his
flight covered a considerable distance around 875 AD. The landing, however, was not successful, with the elderly inventor suffering serious injuries. His invention made him one of the first pioneers of human flight, hundreds of years before other important figures in the history of aviation.

Sail

Abbas Ibn Firnas constructed a glider with a wooden framework, covered with silk and feathers.

Wing

It kept him in the air. He designed the wing to be slightly bent,
thus reducing the shaking
of the wing and increasing stability during the flight.

The glider does not have an engine, so it relies on other forces in the air instead. Lift, necessary for it to remain in the air, is generated on the wings as a result of its speed relative to the surrounding air. This speed can be attained by flying either towards the ground or in vertical air currents.

How did he manoeuvre the device?

The inventor was attached to the wing with harness underneath the centre line. Since the structure did not have a steering device, the pilot controlled the direction and height of the glider using the ropes attached to his hands.

Abbas Ibn Firnas was an Arab polymath who lived in Andalusia. He was an inventor, physician, chemist, engineer, musician and poet. Since he was the first to build a glider aircraft, he is considered a pioneer of aviation.