On 10/8/2010 2:16 PM, Alan Baker wrote:

"But under the power and piloting of Todd Reichert, an Engineering PhD
candidate at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies
(UTIAS), the wing-flapping device sustained both altitude and airspeed
for 19.3 seconds, and covered a distance of 145 metres at an average
speed of 25.6 kilometres per hour."

I don't think that's far or long enough to prove anything. A light
breeze of a headwind would have done the same.

The engine powered one is a great study of what people do with too much
time and money on their hands...

I don't know whether the ability has any practical use or not...

...but then, I'm betting that you don't either... :-)

That's one thing we can agree on.

BTW, I might have bought human powered if the had towed it with a rope
pulled by the track team but then again, I still think it's a flapping
glider...

Tony