Let me ask a flight question. Let us arbitrarily assume that you are a
bird, or a winged whatever, and that from a height of 1000 feet in no-lift
conditions, you can glide a distance of 20,000 feet. Now, let's add 15% to
your weight. Without flapping, how far can you glide in the same
conditions? Now, let's reduce your weight by 15%. How far?
--------- Ain't 20:1 high for a whatever? Just asking.
Going from thin limits. However, remember we agreed about that launch/flight/landing thing being what counts? How the hell you get way up there at a 1000'?
How do your power requirements vary?
I don't start my marathon from the halfway point, although I have been called a winged whatever. When I talk about
flight or volancy in the context of biosystems, I mean the whole cycle. So I need a more precise term
that isn't as hard to type as 'ecologically viable volancy' or
whatever. Flight cycle, maybe?
and the Andes. Blackbirds that nest at 2500’ have lower wingloads than sealevel nesters.
Not for any reason to do with flight -- it's actually to do with launch, and
the variation between individuals or for one individual over time -- varies
by more than the difference in density due to the 2500' change in altitude.
----------I don't understand what you mean, but I think I probably disagree.
-------------------- Damn. I was really hoping there was an answer to the max observed launch altitude re cygnus. Think there is one,
Maybe, I dunno.
or do they launch right on up to .59 atm?
I doubt it. Don't know that any of their usual haunts are at that altitude.
--------- What this country needs is a really effective placebo. But beer works, usually.
Myself, I was always partial to Budweiser.