The model translates one of Leonardo’s compact mechanical observations into a buildable object: simple in appearance, but closely tied to his broader interest in air, motion and flight.
As part of his studies on flight, Leonardo da Vinci devised an instrument for estimating wind intensity and direction. In the so-called thin-sheet anemometer, the force of the wind displaces a light plate against a graduated scale, while a vane indicates the wind direction.
Leonardo’s original drawing, generally dated to about 1483–1486, appears on folio 675 of the Codex Atlanticus. Beside the instrument he wrote: “A misurare quanta via si vada per ora col corso di un vento. Qui bisogna un orilogio che mostri l’ore, punti e minuti” — a note linking wind measurement with the distance travelled in a given time.
This paper model was first released in 2007. It consists of 21 pre-built parts and can be assembled without glue using the Removable Interlocking Pin System (RIPS). The complete model and its instructions fit into a small kit box that can itself be built from paper.
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