Previous in Forum: Plane Stress Question   Next in Forum: Modulation of a Fan
Close
Close
Close
16 comments
Rate Comments: Nested
Active Contributor

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 11

What If We, "Mankind", Could Fly Just Like a Bird?

06/28/2010 2:46 AM

I believe it is possible... Many of you may call me a fool but, I do believe it is very possible! With all of the materials we have today, why wouldn't it be possible? What if somebody had a blueprint for it? Can anyone imagine how?

__________________
What if...
Register to Reply
Pathfinder Tags: Human Flight
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
Guru
Technical Fields - Technical Writing - New Member Engineering Fields - Piping Design Engineering - New Member

Join Date: May 2009
Location: Richland, WA, USA
Posts: 21017
Good Answers: 795
#1

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 3:19 AM

Check out Paul MacReady's "Gossamer Albatross."

The difficulty is that flight surfaces depend on area, whereas weight depends on volume. For larger organisms, weight thus goes up faster than area, requiring large auxiliary airfoil surfaces. The "Gossamer Albatross" had quite a wingspan.

Googling "human powered flight" might tell of more recent advances.

This vision has been with us for a long time, and many sharp minds have worked on it. There seems to have been no lack of vision, motivation, or effort on this.

__________________
In vino veritas; in cervisia carmen; in aqua E. coli.
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Guru

Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 42355
Good Answers: 1693
#2

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 5:35 AM

That's totally impossible! How could you ever text and fly at the same time?

As Tornado has stated, we're too fat to fly, without the help of high tech materials. At that point, we are not, "flying just like a bird".

Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Guru

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj,usa
Posts: 1253
Good Answers: 33
#3
In reply to #2

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 6:17 AM

Bumble Bees fly and they are too fat! Even fatter than us.

Donkey flew in Shreck...Well he did have the benefit of fairy dust so that probably doesn't count because it's really hard to get fairy dust any more...

Let me work on this,we'll be off the ground in no time!

__________________
CARPE CRUSTULORUM!
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Active Contributor

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 11
#14
In reply to #2

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/30/2010 2:46 AM

Well my friend, as fast as the phone biz is changing it won't be a problem by then! :)

__________________
What if...
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Evolution - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member

Join Date: May 2006
Location: The 'Space Coast', USA
Posts: 11119
Good Answers: 918
#4

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 6:28 AM

The simple problem is physics. We lack the power to weight ratio to make it happen.

There would need to be some form of power augmentation to make it happen.

Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Anonymous Poster
#10
In reply to #4

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 10:12 AM

i totally agree with you dear and augmenting power means using external source as well for energy supply without that it would be impossible.

Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Active Contributor

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 11
#13
In reply to #4

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/29/2010 1:41 PM

I agree but only on a small scale, nothing like batteries and motors though... I guess I will have to bring it to one of the upcoming Flugtag events!

__________________
What if...
Register to Reply
Active Contributor

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 11
#15
In reply to #4

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/30/2010 2:51 AM

What about the Pterodactyl? Their weight far exceeded ours? Their wings weren't anything like a bird's. Again, I say it is all in the design, yes with a tiny bit of help but not much at all...

__________________
What if...
Register to Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Evolution - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member

Join Date: May 2006
Location: The 'Space Coast', USA
Posts: 11119
Good Answers: 918
#16
In reply to #15

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/30/2010 8:07 AM

My guess is that the muscle mass of the Pterodactyl is probably much, much higher than the best humans.

Unfortunately, I just have too much on my plate right now, but I am confident I could produce the math to show that we simply lack the energy output to perform powered flight.

The closest thing I can think of is soaring, which uses either ridge lift air currents or thermal currents of rising air to keep aloft. It is possible, with the right equipment, to stay aloft for many, many hours. World record flights have exceeded 2,200 km, and altitudes of up to 49,000 feet MSL.

Register to Reply
Anonymous Poster
#5

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 6:37 AM

What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

For starters, we'd have a lot bigger messes to clean off our cars' windscreens. Not sure most wipers could handle it, frankly.

Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Guru
Hobbies - Fishing - New Member

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Raleigh, NC USA
Posts: 13529
Good Answers: 468
#6

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 6:43 AM

The ancient Greek Icarus did this, but he flew too close to the sun and his wings melted,I'm not sure if it's been attempted since.

__________________
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. Ben Franklin
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Guru
Hobbies - Fishing - Old Salt Hobbies - CNC - New Member United States - US - Statue of Liberty - New Member

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Rosedale, Maryland USA
Posts: 5197
Good Answers: 266
#7

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 8:11 AM

Genetically modify a human to grow wings, big wings and the muscle structure to control them. Would also help in this genetic change to reduce bone mass. Maybe make our bones little hollow tubes. Atrophy of at least our legs don't need to be that big. Won't be doing much walking around. Don't need to carry the additional weight. What else, increase our metabolism it takes a lot of energy flap wings that fast. Stream line the body so there is less restriction in flight, maybe a beak it would help stream line the body. Grow a tail with feathers for fight control.

Hmm after all this is done would what we created be mankind? Think it would be best to just use a plane. I like me just as I'm.

__________________
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty, pristine body but rather to come sliding in sideways, all used up and exclaiming, "Wow, what a ride!"
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Guru

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: New Jersey U.S.A.
Posts: 1114
Good Answers: 38
#8

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 8:37 AM

WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO WITH MY WIFES 27 PIECES OF LUGGAGE. Damn right I aint gonna carry that!!!!!

__________________
The last fight was my fault. My wife asked "What's on the TV?" I said "Dust!"
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Guru
India - Member - New Member

Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Temporarily at Ashburn, VA
Posts: 2744
Good Answers: 164
#9

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 9:55 AM

Great start ... keep up the out-of-the-box thinking.

Read Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Very inspiring

__________________
Nothing worthwhile can ever be taught, it can only be learnt.
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Guru
New Zealand - Member - Kiwi Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Engineering Fields - Power Engineering - New Member Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 8777
Good Answers: 376
#11

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/28/2010 4:22 PM

why wouldn't it be possible?

As others have explained, basic physics and power to weight ratio limitations keep us firmly on the ground when it comes to self-powered bird-like flight.

Glide yes, flap wings attached to our arms, no.

__________________
jack of all trades
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
Active Contributor

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 11
#12
In reply to #11

Re: What if we, "mankind", could fly just like a bird?

06/29/2010 1:26 PM

Well, I see there are plenty of very good points and some funny one's as well! I have thought of problems and I do understand the thought of it all does sound impossible, however, I still believe it is possible with the correct design. I believe it has been "over-thought" and counted out prematurely. Now just to be clear I am not thinking of the cartoon version of a wing strapped to your arm and some feathers hooked along side and you just flap away, there is more to it. I could see this suit as a sport sort of like hang gliding except you don't just glide, you do in fact fly. Thanks for all the input everyone!!! I really do appreciate all of them!

__________________
What if...
Register to Reply
Register to Reply 16 comments

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

Anonymous Hero (2); Anonymous Poster (2); charsley99 (1); jack of all trades (1); kramarat (1); kvsridhar (1); lyn (1); not so smart (1); ozzb (1); Tornado (1); Whatif (4)

Previous in Forum: Plane Stress Question   Next in Forum: Modulation of a Fan

Advertisement