Though the first actual helicopter wasn’t built until the 1940s, it is believed that Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches from the late fifteenth century were the predecessor to the modern day flying machine. As with many of da Vinci’s ideas, he never actually built and tested it – but his notes and drawings mapped out exactly how the device would operate.

Da Vinci scrawled next to his sketches of the screw-like machine the following description: "If this instrument made with a screw be well made – that is to say, made of linen of which the pores are stopped up with starch and be turned swiftly, the said screw will make its spiral in the air and it will rise high."

Also known as the "Helical Air Screw" or simply the "airscrew", the device was designed to compress air to obtain flight – similar to today’s helicopters. Da Vinci was a big proponent of the many possibilities offered by the screw shape, and he used the shape for other inventions and designs as well.

Da Vinci’s helicopter measured more than 15 feet in diameter and was made from reed, linen and wire. It was to be powered by four men standing on a central platform turning cranks to rotate the shaft. With enough rotation, da Vinci believed the invention would lift off the ground. Unfortunately, due to weight constrictions, modern scientists do not believe da Vinci’s invention would have been able to take flight.

Frequently Asked Questions About Leonardo da Vinci’s Aerial Screw

What is Leonardo da Vinci’s aerial screw?
The aerial screw is a design Leonardo sketched that looks a bit like an early helicopter. It was meant to twist through the air and lift off the ground using a spiral sail made of linen stretched over wooden supports.

Did the aerial screw ever fly?
There is no record of it ever flying. Historians generally believe that, as drawn, it would not have lifted off because human power wasn’t enough and the materials were too heavy. Still, the idea was remarkable for its time.

Why is it called a “screw”?
Leonardo described the shape like a spiraling screw — almost like a giant twisted shell — that he thought could push against the air and rise upward if spun fast enough.

How was it supposed to work?
The concept was that several people would stand inside and turn cranks or handles to spin the spiral. Leonardo thought the rotation might create enough pressure against the air to lift the machine, though he didn’t have a way to test it in reality.

Was this the first idea for a helicopter?
In spirit, yes. It wasn’t a working helicopter, but it’s one of the earliest known attempts to think about flight by spinning a structure. Later inventors picked up similar ideas once engines became available.

Did Leonardo really think it could work, or was it just a sketch?
Leonardo believed in experimentation, so he probably thought it was worth exploring, even if it wasn’t feasible with the tools and materials of his day. He wrote about air and motion in detail, trying to understand how flight might be possible.

What materials did Leonardo plan to use?
His notes suggest wood for the frame and linen for the spiral surface. These materials made sense then, but they also made the craft too heavy for what he hoped to achieve.

Why is the aerial screw important today?
Even though it never flew, it shows how far ahead of his time Leonardo was in imagining machines that challenged the limits of technology. It’s a great example of creative thinking and early engineering.

Can you see a model of the aerial screw today?
Yes. Museums that focus on Leonardo’s inventions often display replicas or working models based on his drawings so people can see how the design might have moved.

For more information on Leonardo da Vinci’s helicopter invention, please visit:

Early Helicopter History
Helicopter pioneers