Leonardo da Vinci
There appears to be no field of knowledge where Leonardo DaVinci has not made a contribution to the world: anatomy, physiology, mechanics, hydraulics, physics, philosophy, mathematics, writing, engineering, philosophy, orbital mechanics, botany, optics were all studied and revealed by his genius.
Leonardo da Vinci made the first real studies of flight in the 1480's. He had over 100 drawings that illustrated his theories on flight.
The Ornithopter flying machine was never actually created. It was a design that Leonardo da Vinci created to show how man could fly. The modern day helicopter is based on this concept.
Carry on.