Five hundred years ago, Leonardo watched bats and birds to find inspiration for creating a flying machine. His detailed drawings come to life in the current show at Munich's Deutsches Museum. Leonardo never did fly, but his drawings are testament to his talent and passion. German engineer, Otto Lillienthal, was also a birdman. Dubbed the "Glider King," Lillienthal built a platform on a hill near Berlin in 1894 so that he could launch his bird-inspired crafts himself. With wings he made of linen-covered bamboo, Lillienthal took flight over 2000 times before he fell to his death at the age of 48. Too young, but what a way to go. Most of us never even get to the drawing stage.
