The Flapping Flight of Birds. II

Extract

In a paper in the number of this journal for November, 1925, it was shown that if a flying machine were fitted with wings of standard section and these were flapped in a rhythmical manner, the machine would be supported and propelled, its weight, dimensions and velocity being those of a typical bird; the degree of accuracy attempted in the analysis did not exceed five per cent.

A subsequent examination of the power involved established a high efficiency; but this was due to a large amount of negative work during up–beats; and although such conditions might be maintained in a mechanical model they were unlikely in a bird, which has a large muscle, the pectoralis minor, for lifting its wings. In a bird efficiency seemed to require that the angle of incidence of the outer portion during an up–beat should be negative (see §7, p. 593, of the previous paper); the angle was however made zero (see §9) in order to secure adequate lift, and it is this feature which gives rise to the negative work.