Re: Archaeopteryx not the first bird, is the earliest known (powered) flying dinosaur

[GSP1954@aol.com]

The arm wing area/total mass ratio of Microraptor is in the middle of the 
range for flying birds of its mass, adding the hind wings doubles this value. 

The argument that the loading of the similar sized fore and aft wings is 
dependent upon the fore-aft distribution of the mass of the body is not 
correct. 
Assuming that the leg wings could be splayed out sufficiently close to 
horizontal to generate close to the maximum possible lift, the distribution of 
wing 
loading could be easily adjusted by adjusting the fore-aft sweep of the two 
sets 
of wings as needed. If lesser loading on the forewings was desired then sweep 
the leg wing or both wings backwards and the downwards pitch will be 
increased. Sweep the arm or both wings forward and the animal will pitch up. 
For equal 
loading of the wings adjust to a neutral sweep. A similar thing happened with 
the Me-262 jet. It was intended to be a straightwing aircraft because swept 
wings are not necessary at 540 mph. While being designed in 1940 Messerschmitt 
received the engine data showing that the jets would be much more aft heavy 
than expected. To avoid the plane being tail heavy, and to avoid a major 
redesign, they simply canted the outer wings backwards to shift the axis of 
lift aft 
in better accord with the center of gravity. This can be seen by looking at 
the wings, the plating and framing of the outer wing are not in line with the 
airflow (after the prototype flew airflow problems over the inner wing caused 
the leading edge to be filled in and swept in line with the outer wing, leading 
to the illusion of a swept wing). 

G Paul