Diego Marín Aguilera: Difference between revisions

Marín devised, early on, several labor-saving devices, including a gadget that improved the functionality of a [[watermill]] on the [[Arandilla River|Arandilla river]];<ref name="man who flew">{{cite web|url= http://www.google.com/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fburgospedia1.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F19%2Fdiego-marin-aguilera-el-primer-hombre-que-volo%2F| title=Marín Aguilera Diego – The first man who flew |date=19 Jan 2010|publisher=Yague Garces at Burgospedia|accessdate=2013-08-28}}</ref> another that improved the working of a [[Fulling|fulling-mill]]; and another used to improve the cutting of [[marble]] in the [[quarry|quarries]] of [[Espejón]].<ref name="bird man"/> He also came up with a device with which to whip horses during the process of [[threshing]], and another that made cloth pads.<ref name="bird man"/>▼

Marín was inspired by the [[eagle]]s he spotted while tending his animals and fields: he wanted to build a [[flying machine]]. For six years, he worked on one of his own inventions.<ref name="diego"/> The machine was built out of wood, iron, cloth, and feathers.<ref name="bird man"/><ref name="man who flew"/> He gathered eagle and [[vulture]] [[feathers]] by setting up special traps on which he placed rotting meat to attract these birds.<ref name="diego"/>▼

Marín made calculations regarding the weight, volume, size, dimensions of the feathers, as well as the weight of the bodies of these birds.<ref name="diego"/> He also carefully studied the movement of their wings and tail and constructed, with the assistance of the local [[blacksmith]], Joaquín Barbero, a pair of [[wrought iron]] "joints" that moved about like a [[Fan (implement)|fan]]. He also built [[stirrups]] for his feet and hand-cranks that controlled the direction of the machine.<ref name="bird man"/>▼

On the night of May 15, 1793,<ref name="bird man"/><ref name="diego"/><ref name="man who flew"/> accompanied by the blacksmith Barbero and one of Marín's sisters, Marín placed his glider on the highest part of the castle of Coruña del Conde. In the light of the [[full moon]], he remarked (roughly): "I’m going to [[Burgo de Osma]], and from there to [[Soria]], and I’ll be back in a couple of days."<ref name="diego"/>▼

Flapping the wings of the glider, he reached a height of “six or seven ''[[Obsolete Spanish and Portuguese units of measurement#Vara|varas]]''” (approximately 5 or 6 m) and according to his companions, glided for "431 Castilian ''varas''",<ref name="diego"/> or around 300<ref name="bird man"/> to 500 yards.<ref name="man who flew"/> <!--The [[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics]] writes that he flew for “about 360 meters.” link dead <ref name="aiaa">{{cite web|url=http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=448 |title=American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics – History – Spain |publisher=Aiaa.org |date=January 18, 2012 }}</ref>--> Marín managed to cross the river [[Arandilla River|Arandilla]] and reached the area known as Heras, where he crash-landed after one of the metal joints broke. Fearing the worst, his companions ran to the spot. Marín was only scratched and bruised, but angry at the blacksmith for failing to weld the joint properly.▼