Re: Ornithurine diversity

[jrc <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

A sudden sharp transverse translation of the leading edge can also be used 
to shed a leading edge vortex and establish full circulation within about 
half a chord length of wing travel rather than the 2 to 2.5 chord lengths 
that are usually required.  Another comment or two inserted below.
JimC
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Habib" <mhabib5@jhmi.edu>
To: <jbois@verizon.net>
Cc: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2008 6:34 PM
Subject: Re: Ornithurine diversity


> Some of the more critical burst-launch characteristics 
> include:......[snip]
> Cheers,
>
> --Mike
>
>
> On Saturday, July 12, 2008, at 02:49  PM, john bois wrote:
>
> > Pigeons (for example) have an amazing capacity for getting high raipdly 
> > (hippies take note!).

About 490 feet per minute (2.5 meters/sec)


> > because they can lift off more quickly they can escape predators that 
> > would catch fanless birds.

Don't count on the fanning tail to help get them above the height that a cat 
can leap any quicker than a fanless bird could do it.  Rather, count on the 
fanning tail to improve their overall angle of climb for a somewhat 
protracted period.
JimC