The Swedenborg Flying Machine
The Swedenborg Flying Machine was a sketch made by Swedish scientist Emanuel Swedenborg in 1714. The machine shows a single large wing.
The Swedenborg Flying Machine - Swedish Pre-WW1 Aircraft

Time Period: Pre-WW1
Country of Origin: Sweden
Type: Other machines
Manufacturer: Emanuel Swedenborg (concept)

The Swedenborg Flying Machine Aircraft Overview

The Swedenborg Flying Machine was an early attempt at creating a flying machine that was designed by the Swedish scientist and inventor Emanuel Swedenborg in the early 18th century. Swedenborg’s design was based on the principles of buoyancy and aerodynamics, and he believed that he could create a machine that would be able to fly through the air using a combination of wings and a propulsive engine.

Swedenborg’s design for the flying machine was highly innovative for its time, and included several key features that would later become standard in modern aircraft design. These included a system of wings and flaps for lift and control, a tail section for stability, and a propulsion system consisting of a set of paddle wheels driven by a hand-cranked mechanism.

While Swedenborg’s flying machine was never actually built or flown, his design is considered to be an important precursor to modern aviation. The principles that he developed in his studies of flight and aerodynamics, including the concept of lift and the use of wings for control, have been influential in the development of modern aircraft.

Today, Swedenborg’s flying machine is remembered as an important milestone in the history of aviation, and a testament to the ingenuity and vision of early aviation pioneers.

The Swedenborg Flying Machine Image Gallery

More Aircraft

German WW1 Aircraft: Fokker G.I

Fokker G.I

The Fokker G.I, or “Le Faucheur” (The Reaper), was a heavy Dutch twin-engine fighter and reconnaissance aircraft developed in the late 1930s.

Read More »
Fokker D.VII - German WW1 Aircraft & Warplanes - Details

Fokker D.VII

The Fokker D.VII was one of the most advanced and effective fighter aircraft of World War I, regarded as the time’s best German fighter.

Read More »
Sopwith Triplane - British WW1 Aircraft and Warplanes

Sopwith Triplane

The Sopwith Triplane (“Tripe” or “Tripehound”) was a British single-seat fighter aircraft that played a pioneering role in World War I.

Read More »
Bloch MB.150 - WW2 French Aircraft & Warplanes

Bloch MB.150

The Bloch MB.150 was a French fighter aircraft that featured an all-metal construction, a retractable undercarriage, and an enclosed cockpit.

Read More »