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By Collections Curator Ruth Bitner
February 2004
Vallevand seated in ornithopter
WDM Archives
Ralph Vallevand of Elbow, Saskatchewan dreamed of flying like a
bird. In true pioneer spirit, he set about to build a machine
that would make his dream a reality. His retirement in the early
1990s gave him the time he needed to develop his plans.
Vallevand was not alone. For hundreds of years, humans have
longed for the freedom of birds. In the 15th century, Leonardo
da Vinci was fascinated with the idea of human-powered flight
and produced a design for such a machine. Many others followed,
designing their own flying machines, or ornithopters, with
flapping wings. None, however, were successful.
Ralph
Vallevand with model ornithopter
WDM Archives
A carpenter by trade, Vallevand had the woodworking skills to
create his dream machine. He studied airplane construction and
spent many hours observing the wing action of birds in flight.
He understood that a bird’s wings push slightly backward as well
as flapping up and down. Vallevand applied this knowledge to the
design of his craft.
Working with lightweight, knot-free Sitka spruce, Vallevand designed his
machine to simulate this movement.
Ornithopter
wings with fabric “feathers”
WDM Archives
A clever hinge arrangement using a series of bungee cords was used to create the flapping motion. The wings were covered with strips of cloth which acted as feathers, opening and closing with the wing movement. A cage affair was designed for the operator.
Vallevand’s ornithopter had a wingspan of 16.15 metres and
weighed only 68 kg. It was assembled for viewing in the Elbow
hockey rink. The delicate machine attracted considerable local
attention, however, its ability to fly was never tested.
Vallevand himself commented, “I wouldn’t want to be the test
pilot.”
While the machine may or may not have been successful in flight,
Vallevand is an example of the Saskatchewan tradition of
invention, innovation and the spirit of independent adventure.
Only a year after the Wright Brothers historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903, William Gibson, known as the “bird man of Balgonie” began experimenting with flying machines. He later moved to British Columbia and built his own airplane engine, making a successful flight in 1910. Bob St. Henry made Saskatchewan’s first heavier-than-air flight in 1911. And our province boasted the first licensed commercial pilot, the first licensed air engineer, the first licensed commercial aircraft and the first licensed aerodrome (airport) in Canada.
Ornithopter
assembled in the Elbow rink; Vallevand (centre)
WDM Archives
Ralph Vallevand donated both a model of his ornithopter and the actual machine to the Western Development Museum in 2001. Repairs were done by a group of aviation enthusiasts before the machine was put on exhibit in the Saskatoon WDM in 2002. Sadly, Vallevand did not live to see it on display. However, he will long be remembered for his creative spirit and the pursuit of his dream.
Ralph Vallevand, (left) with his ornithopter, Elbow rink
WDM Archives
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