Re: Of course nonavian dinosaurs could fly - duh

["jrc" <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

Ground effect follows the Biot-Savart law and thus has no ceiling, though it 
does become relatively inconsequential when HAG is much more than a 
semi-span. Primary effect is a reduction in induced drag when close to the 
ground, thereby requiring relatively less power to maintain level flight.
JimC

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "evelyn sobielski" <koreke77@yahoo.de>
To: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 8:10 AM
Subject: Re: Of course nonavian dinosaurs could fly - duh


> The ground effect establishes a ceiling (perhaps a meter above ground) 
> that is tough to break from below - even if you could glide-hop a bit, 
> that does not mean that you were able to become free-flying (even 
> free-gliding), because as soon as you get out of the ground effect 
> "cushion", sustaining airborneness becomes suddenly much tougher.