Flying Snakes: The Secret to Their Incredible Gliding Abilities

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the gliding abilities of flying snakes, exploring the mechanics behind their flight and potential experimental analyses. Participants examine the physics of their glide ratios and propose methods for further investigation, such as wind tunnel experiments.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that flying snakes can achieve 80 feet of horizontal distance from a 50-foot height, suggesting a mechanism involving a self-flattened rib cage and tail for steering.
  • Another participant expresses interest in conducting wind tunnel analyses to visualize airflow over the snakes, proposing the use of smoke flow for better observation.
  • A participant raises concerns about the challenges of landing, implying that the touchdown process may be complex.
  • Further discussion includes the possibility of launching snakes into a headwind to facilitate smoke ribbon setups for analysis, while also noting the difficulty of finding suitable research facilities.
  • One participant compares the glide ratio of flying snakes to that of humans performing wingsuit jumps, highlighting the impressive glide ratio of the snakes despite lacking wings or limbs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the impressive glide capabilities of flying snakes and the potential for further research, but there are differing views on the feasibility and methods of conducting such analyses.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the need for specific conditions for wind tunnel experiments and the challenges associated with measuring glide ratios accurately in natural settings.

mugaliens
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http://news.yahoo.com/s//livescience/20101123/sc_livescience/flyingsnakessecretrevealed/" .

These little guys managed 80' horizontal from a 50' high platform. Furthermore, the video clearly shows their fall flattens out to some serious forward motion, so they're definitely not just leaping that far.

The mechanism appears fairly straitforward, with a self-flattened rib cage angled nearly sideways into the apparent wind, and using both its tail as well as the length of each back and forth slithering movement for steerage.

It even flares before landing!

I wonder how well it would fare from 200' up?
 
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Would be nice to do some wind tunnel analysis on it! Some shots with smoke flow over it would be great too.
 
The touchdown must be some headache though.
 
viscousflow said:
Would be nice to do some wind tunnel analysis on it! Some shots with smoke flow over it would be great too.

If he can launch them into a slight headwind, and provided he has a large enough clear area upwind, it might be possible to set up smoke ribbons that would last for 80 feet. Otherwise, good luck on finding a 50' high wind tunnel willing to donate time to research flying snakes.

Interestingly, with 50' vertical and 80' horizontal, that's better than a 1:1 glide ratio. Not bad for an animal that not only doesn't have wings, but doesn't even have any arms or legs!

As for us humans: "The longest verified WiSBASE jump is 5.8 km (3.6 mi) by Dean Potter[7] on August, 2009. Potter jumped from Eiger and had spent 2 minutes and 50 seconds in flight, covering 7,900 ft (2.4 km) of altitude." - http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2009/12/best-of-adventure/dean-potter"

That's 5.8 km horizontal to 2.4 km veritcal, for a glide ratio of 2.42.
 
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