Re: ARCHAEOPTERYX FLIGHT

[Chris Nedin <cnedin@geology.adelaide.edu.au>]

>Alas, a new thread.....
>
>ARCHAEOPTERYX
>
>Chris Nedin wrote:
><<<So,  as you see,  the furcula of Archaeopteryx is built to hold a
>large wing depresser muscle.>>>
>
><<This has little bearing on what I wrote, namely that the some tendon
>structures amongst others ( e.g. M.supracoracoideus) of Archae implies
>that it was not capable of power flight (flapping flight, yes) and so
>was probably not on the direct line to birds with the ability to power
>fly. FWIW I accept that Archae was capable of flapping flight, but not
>power flight.>>
>
>"Power flight"?  If you are using the term as a way to define the strong
>way that modern birds fly I would agree with you.  To a point......

I 'defined' what I meant by "power flight" at the start of this thread:

Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 16:11:32 +0930
From: Chris Nedin <cnedin@geology.adelaide.edu.au>
To: dinosaur@usc.edu
Subject: Re: Theory on ornithoptering and could Archie do it ?

"One needs to differentiate between flight and *powered* flight, they are
two separate things.  Flight can be seen as simply keeping yourself
airborn, and is surprisingly easy (given the correct power/weight ratio).
Once a certain aerial speed is achieved (approx. 9 m/s) then simple
flapping in enough to maintain flight.
Power flight is an entirely different animal.  Power flight is the ability
to take off from a standing start, to fly at very low speeds and to do
aerial acrobatics.  Power flight is to flight what the 4 minute mile is to
running. Just because you cannot run the mile in 4 minutes does not mean
that you cannot run.  Similarly, just because a bird cannot power fly does
not mean that it cannot fly."

I think we are actually in agreement.

Chris

cnedin@geology.adelaide.edu.au                  nedin@ediacara.org
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