Leonardo da Vinci is one of the greats. Whether you know him for his work as an inventor, a painter, or even just Dan Brown’s popular navel, The Da Vinci Code, the fact is that you do know him. He’s an iconic figure that helped shape the world into what it is today.
One of da Vinci’s most famous concepts is one that inspired the modern aviation industry. His designs for a a human-powered ornithopter may not have been flight-capable (or ever actually built), but they were absolutely revolutionary for his time. And those beautiful concept drawings translate wonderfully into LEGO form.
Both Amazon and Target are currently offering the LEGO version of da Vinci’s Flying Machine for $39.99. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen this set sell for since it was first released back in January 2025, and likely the lowest price we’ll see during Prime Day. As far as 18+ sets go, the price is pretty low and the 493-piece count is fairly tame. It’s a really cool display set you can show off on your shelf or desk and actually includes a mechanism that allows you to flap the wings.
Leonardo da Vinci’s ornithopter was inspired by the flight of winged animals and was one of the first real studies of flight back in the 1480s. It was one of the first true concepts of how humans could potentially take to the skies. In addition to inspiring modern aviation, it has also been used as inspiration for modern cinema. You may recognize the word “ornithopter” from the Dune movies, which features massive ships designed like dragonflies. LEGO has actually also released a Dune Royal Ornithopter set, which is like a suped-up sci-fi version of da Vinci’s original machine.
The Mona Lisa set is retiring soon
The flying machine actually isn’t the only LEGO set based on da Vinci’s works. You can also build the Mona Lisa, one of the most famous paintings in the world. The real version can be found on display at the Louvre in Paris, so the LEGO set is a unique tribute you can hang on your own wall. It’s another 18+ display set from the LEGO Art theme and is made up of just over 1,500 pieces. It’s currently available at a discount at Amazon and is set to retire next month.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor’s degree in communication and 10 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics — from TV series to books and the latest Pokémon games.