Stirling Castle
STIRLING CASTLE: Early flight attempt site
NOTES: It appears that in 1507 the Italian Giovanni Damian, physician to the Abbot of Tongland, strapped on some ‘bird-like’ wings and launched himself from the Castle walls.
It was probably fortunate that he apparently landed in the castle dung-heap, (a far call from his intended destination of France), and only broke a leg in this attempt at flight!
Apparently he had a sincere belief that human flight was possible and was much inspired by the accounts of Daedalus and Icarus. Strange rôle models it appears to me, as I seem to recall they weren’t too successful either! I have read at least two accounts of this flight attempt in recent years and although they vary quite a bit in detail they don’t vary much in substance.
I can expect some readers thinking: "Hold up a mo - this is hardly a flying site". And indeed I have some sympathy with this. However, many early flight attempts resulted in a glide ratio of 1:1, and although their attempts only lasted for seconds, these invariably deluded people were indeed briefly 'airborne'.
We'd love to hear from you, so please scroll down to leave a comment!
Leave a comment ...
Copyright (c) UK Airfield Guide
