Ornithopter Jonathan Edward Caldwell

diagram of ornithopter design patent application. wedge-shaped objects on wings (#20) consist of fabric valves (#21), blow closed against supports (#20) on downstroke.

caldwell turned more bizarre aircraft design, ornithopter. wings equipped flexible fabric valves supposed open on upstroke , close on downstroke, allowing generate lift no forward motion , provide vtol service, cyclogyro.

caldwell, living in denver filed patent on new design in december 1927, granted us1730758 in october 1929. in 1928 started company in nevada raise funds develop it, gray goose airways , inc., issuing 10,000 shares of stock @ ten cents per share, retaining 51 percent interest. funds used develop human-powered prototype.

by 1931 there still no working prototype, , caldwell moved orangeburg, new york, , later madison, new jersey. january 14, 1932 newsreel film shows ornithopter being readied test. apparently attempted without success, otherwise unknown emile harrier. additional funds raised stock issue in order build full-sized prototype @ teterboro airport. apparently restarted cyclogyro work, , article appeared in 1 of popular mechanics-like magazines showing design equipped v-8 engine mounted in odd twin-fuselage pilot , passengers below.

before ornithopter prototype completed, new jersey assistant attorney general charged caldwell fraud in september. in notes, attorney, robert grossman, noted no 1 connected company possessed sufficient knowledge of aeronautics build practical ship. caldwell reached agreement allowed him continue construction of ornithopter prototype until december, long no more shares of stock sold in time. grossman noted caldwell had begun work on yet entirely new design, using disk wing.

in december there still no prototype, , caldwell moved company new york. new york attorney general started questioning business immediately.