A wooden model kit inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s famous aerial screw, drawn in Manuscript B, folio 83v. Often described as a precursor to the modern helicopter, this visionary invention imagined a spiral sail spinning through the air like a screw, based on the idea that air could behave like a fluid and o er lift when compressed.
The DAHIMO model is fully functional: the top screw can be turned manually, replicating the upward motion Leonardo envisioned. It’s made from 4 mm birch plywood, with the sail crafted from TNT fabric, evoking the starched cloth Leonardo described in his notes. The model requires PVA glue (not included), but the assembly process is straightforward, well guided, and satisfying, even for beginners.
This is one of the most debated and misinterpreted drawings in Leonardo’s work. It wasn’t a real flying machine, but a theoretical experiment, possibly inspired by an ancient Roman toy: a small helical rotor mounted on a stick that children spun between their hands to make it lift into the air. Leonardo observed the principle and expanded it with his imagination, laying the conceptual groundwork for vertical flight centuries ahead of its time.
Once completed, the aerial screw becomes an elegant and captivating decorative object, perfect for display at home, in classrooms, or in creative spaces. One of DAHIMO’s most appreciated models in museum bookshops, it pays tribute to Leonardo’s boundless curiosity and visionary thinking.
Product details
- Item code s08
- Size 21×17,5×21 cm.
- Weight 75 gr
- Components 18 pcs
- Material Birch plywood
- Estimated time of assembly
- Suitable for age over Over 10 years
- Difficulty level Easy
Box
- Box size 28×22,3×5 cm
- Box Weight 250 gr.
- Instructions Sheet ITA ENG
Video tutorial and instructions
Download instructions: EN
