Re: Velociraptor scavenged azhdarchid pterosaur

["Habib, Michael" <MHabib@Chatham.edu>]

On Mar 6, 2012, at 5:46 PM, Tim Williams wrote:
> It's my understanding that stability-flapping required a complete
> flight stroke.  Were dromaeosaur forelimbs even capable of this range
> of motion?

I originally thought a large excursion would be needed, as well, but looking at 
the problem a bit more, I'm not actually sure that's the case.  If you think 
about what the wings are actually doing, it's basically roll and pitch 
correction (mostly).  That really just requires asymmetrical forces between the 
right and left wings.  So a more derived flight stroke certainly helps, but I'm 
not sure it's a prerequisite.  That's just a rough assessment, though; I 
haven't actually solved any equations on it yet.  Maybe someone else has 
already tackled that problem?

Cheers,

--Mike Habib


Michael Habib
Assistant Professor of Biology
Chatham University
Woodland Road, Pittsburgh PA  15232
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mhabib@chatham.edu
(443) 280-0181