Bart Bear's Blog

The most fascinating thing at this Floriade, at least for the Oldies and me, is an exhibition of machines designed centuries ago by Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo was a real genius. Most people know about his art works, the Mona Lisa probably being the best known, but he was much more than just one of the best painters ever. He was way ahead of his time in engineering, optics and science in general. The exhibition at Floriade is about his machines, and they are absolutely mind-boggling. Way back in the 15th and early 16th century he designed a tank, a helicopter, siege engines, a calculator, a robot, several flying machines, lots of boats, extension ladders, automatic blacksmith tools, well diggers, automatic wagons, ball bearings, gearboxes, even a jack. If he had a decent engine available he would have really got the world moving. There are models of some of these machines in the exhibition and they are all just the right size for this small bear to try out. Here is one of the ones that I would like to really test on another boat. It is called the Scorpion and the idea is to sink other boats by dropping that big sharp scythe blade into them. You raise the blade with the ropes and windlass, row up to the enemy boat, turn the platform to get the blade over their boat, let the blade go and Wham!! there goes bits of the other boat. Messy, but I would like to try it. Lots of other pictures from this exhibition soon.

Labels: boats, Canberra, gardens