In 1890, Clément Ader, aviation pioneer, unveiled his new invention to the world, the steam-powered Éole. It was followed by other flying contraptions, like the Avion III.

Ader with his flying machine

Ader was a brilliant man with a vision – or a nightmare – of what flying humans would look like. And his inspiration came from the bat.

Credit: Popular Science

Photo credit: http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/

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