Diego Marín Aguilera facts for kids
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Diego Marín Aguilera (born 1757, died 1799) was a Spanish inventor. He was one of the first people to try and build a flying machine. Many people see him as an early aviation pioneer, meaning someone who helped start the idea of flying.
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Diego Marín's Early Life
Diego Marín was born in a town called Coruña del Conde in Spain. When his father passed away, Diego became the head of his family. He had to take care of his seven brothers and sisters. He worked as a farmer, looking after his animals and fields. He spent many hours herding sheep in the open fields around his home.
What Did Diego Marín Invent?
Even at a young age, Diego Marín was very clever at inventing things. He created several devices that made work easier.
- He improved a watermill on the Arandilla River.
- He made a fulling-mill work better (a machine used to thicken cloth).
- He also invented a way to improve the cutting of marble in the quarries of Espejón.
- He even came up with a device to help whip horses during threshing (separating grain from plants).
- Another invention helped make cloth pads.
Building a Flying Machine
Diego Marín was inspired by the eagles he saw while working in the fields. He dreamed of building his own flying machine. For six years, he worked hard on his invention. He built it using wood, iron, cloth, and feathers.
To get feathers, he set up special traps with rotting meat to attract eagles and vultures. He carefully studied how much these birds weighed, their size, and the dimensions of their feathers. He also watched how their wings and tails moved.
With help from the local blacksmith, Joaquín Barbero, Diego built special wrought iron "joints." These joints moved like a fan, helping the wings flap. He also added stirrups for his feet and hand-cranks to control the machine's direction.
Diego Marín's Attempted Flight
On the night of May 15, 1793, Diego Marín was ready. He took his glider to the highest part of the castle in Coruña del Conde. The blacksmith Barbero and one of Diego's sisters were with him. Under the light of the full moon, Diego famously said something like: "I'm going to Burgo de Osma, and from there to Soria, and I'll be back in a couple of days."
He flapped the wings of his glider and lifted off! He reached a height of about 5 or 6 meters (which is "six or seven varas"). His companions said he glided for about 300 to 400 meters (which is "431 Castilian varas"). The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics says he flew for about 360 meters.
Diego managed to fly across the Arandilla River. He landed in an area called Heras when one of the metal joints broke. His companions quickly ran to him, fearing the worst. Luckily, Diego only had a few scratches and bruises. He was mostly upset with the blacksmith for not welding the joint strongly enough.
Diego Marín's Legacy
After his flight, Diego Marín faced more bad luck. The people in his town thought he was strange, or even a fraud. They burned his "demonic" flapping-wing machine. Diego lost all hope. He felt disgraced and very sad, so he never tried to fly again.
He passed away at the age of 44 in his hometown, just six years after his flight attempt. Diego didn't leave behind any written records of his inventions. He was buried in the local church.
Today, Diego Marín Aguilera is called the “father of aviation” in Spain. The Spanish Air Force has even placed a monument dedicated to him next to the castle where he took flight. The castle itself was offered for sale for just €1 in 2002, but only if the buyer promised to fix up the old building.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has written about Diego Marín. They say that while it's hard to know every detail, it seems he really did achieve some gliding flight. He survived after his machine broke and crashed. They note that Diego Marín, even without formal science training, had amazing technical skills. He is a great example of how humans have always dreamed of flying. They confirm his flight was about 360 meters long.
See also
In Spanish: Diego Marín Aguilera para niños
