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No Evolutionary Explanation for Flight Formations
Migratory birds flying in formation tend to cause people to look up in wonder. They have been doing this long before aircraft were invented. It was learned that fly in an aerodynamically efficient manner. As technology advances and scientists get more ambitious, further information comes to light.
Now scientists are learning that the flight formations are mathematically precise and intricate. Interestingly, the Evo Sith have not even bothered to some up with filghty evolutionary "explanations". They did not evolve these advanced, efficient flight systems, they were designed that way.
Birds fly in that beautiful V formation for a reason, and it requires sophisticated abilities in high precision aerodynamics.
Scientists have finally confirmed that the V-formation used by geese
and other large migratory birds provides an energy benefit. A new paper
in Nature
describes the work of Steven Portugal and team, who trained rare
northern bald ibises to trust them as surrogate moms. First outfitting
the birds with data collectors, they took them up on practice flights
following an ultralight aircraft and filmed their flying dynamics.
According to the BBC News,
the birds not only found the ideal positions behind their flockmates,
but timed their wingflaps for best advantage, too. The ideal position
behind and to the side of a front bird allows them to take advantage of
the “upwash” of the front bird’s flap, and the synchronized flapping (in
phase with wave trains) avoids the downwash. As a result, the flock
propagates a wavetrain down both arms of the V that gives them an extra
lift on a cushion of air, saving energy.
To finish reading, wing your way over to "Formation Flight Physics Mastered by Birds".
