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  2. Bird flight - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_flight

    Take-off is one of the most energetically demanding aspects of flight, as the bird must generate enough airflow across the wing to create lift. Small birds do this with a simple upward jump. However, this technique does not work for larger birds, such as albatrosses and swans, which instead must take a running start to generate sufficient ...

  3. Ornithopter - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithopter

    Leonardo's ornithopter designs were inspired by his study of birds, and conceived the use of flapping motion to generate thrust and provide the forward motion necessary for aerodynamic lift. However, using materials available at that time the craft would be too heavy and require too much energy to produce sufficient lift or thrust for flight.

  4. Flying and gliding animals - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_and_gliding_animals

    Studies on theropod dinosaurs do suggest multiple (at least 3) independent acquisitions of powered flight however, [1] [2] and a recent study proposes independent acquisitions amidst the different bat clades as well. [3] Powered flight uses muscles to generate aerodynamic force, which allows the animal to produce lift and thrust. The animal may ...

  5. Origin of avian flight - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_avian_flight

    Birds use wing-assisted inclined running from the day they hatch to increase locomotion. This can also be said for birds or feathered theropods whose wing muscles cannot generate enough force to fly, and shows how this behavior could have evolved to help these theropods then eventually led to flight. [18]

  6. Gliding flight - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliding_flight

    The lift-to-drag ratio, or L/D ratio, is the amount of lift generated by a wing or vehicle, divided by the drag it creates by moving through the air. A higher or more favourable L/D ratio is typically one of the major goals in aircraft design; since a particular aircraft's needed lift is set by its weight, delivering that lift with lower drag ...

  7. Wing - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing

    The word "wing" from the Old Norse vængr [1] for many centuries referred mainly to the foremost limbs of birds (in addition to the architectural aisle). But in recent centuries the word's meaning has extended to include lift producing appendages of insects, bats, pterosaurs, boomerangs, some sail boats and aircraft, or the airfoil on a race car.

  8. Lift (soaring) - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_(soaring)

    Lift is a meteorological phenomenon used as an energy source by soaring aircraft and soaring birds. The most common human application of lift is in sport and recreation. The three air sports that use soaring flight are: gliding, hang gliding and paragliding. Energy can be gained by using rising air from four sources: Thermals (where air rises ...

  9. V formation - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_formation

    Eurasian cranes in a V formation (video) Birds flying in V formation. A V formation is a symmetric V- or chevron-shaped flight formation.In nature, it occurs among geese, swans, ducks, and other migratory birds, improving their energy efficiency, while in human aviation, it is used mostly in military aviation, air shows, and occasionally commercial aviation.