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First Flapping-Winged Aircraft Takes Flight

Longhornmaniac From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 3094 posts, RR: 48
Posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 7 hours ago) and read 1608 times:

Not really sure if this is the right forum, but it seems as good a fit as any.

Did I mention it looks like a hummingbird?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32128989...ns/technology_and_science-science/

Funny, yet interesting at the same time.

Cheers,
Cameron

4 replies: All unread, jump to last

Rwessel From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 1988 posts, RR: 2
Reply 1, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1574 times:

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Actually ornithopters have been flying for decades. They're not very practical at large scales, but there's always a fringe group pursuing them

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithopter

This appears to be somewhat unique in that it's tail-less as well.

Ual747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 2, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1567 times:

Nano aircraft will become very good with reconnaissance missions. There could be one out my window right now and I wouldn't know it.

Scary thing is soon they'll become as small as flies. What happens when one gets into the pentagon? We all know Obama has a good fly swat, but really, what happens when they go that small?

UAL

WestWing From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2112 posts, RR: 8
Reply 3, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1543 times:

I'm sure there was a model pterodactyl with flapping wings which flew about 25 years ago. It was featured in an IMAX film at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. In fact the original model used to hang just outside the IMAX theater at NASM, when the theatre was still the Langley theatre. The model crashed and "died" during a demo flight at Andrews AFB and the newspaper report called it a "Pterrible Ptragedy". So I do not think the hummingbird is the first.

The best time to plant a tree is 40 years ago. The second best time is today.

Prebennorholm From Denmark, joined Mar 2000, 6016 posts, RR: 55
Reply 4, posted (3 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1476 times:

This one is not an ornithopter.

An ornithopter simulates the forward flight of a bird. The flapping and twisting of the wings produces nothing but forward thrust to overcome drag - substitutes the propeller on an ordinary aircraft. In all other ways an ornithopter flies as an ordinary airplane.

This one is able to hover like a helicopter and does not rely on a tail to stabilize flight. It flies more like an insect - or as birds in hovering flight. Most mainly smaller birds can hover, at least for short periods of time, enough for vertical takeoff and landing. But an ornithopter cannot.

AeroVironment was founded by famous Dr. Paul MacCready. He became a World Champion with sailplanes some fifty years ago, and he continued to develope a lot of fine stuff for the glider community.

He designed the first human powered aircraft - the Gossamar Albatros - which crossed the British Channel with bicycle pedal power alone. He later produced a similar, man carrying plane with also crossed the the British Channel using electric power from solar cells alone.

He died two years ago at age 82.

Always keep your number of landings equal to your number of take-offs, Preben Norholm

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