Is Human Flight Possible?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the feasibility of human flight akin to Superman's abilities. Participants argue that while traditional human anatomy lacks the aerodynamic properties for flight, technological advancements such as jetpacks or specially designed suits could enable a form of flight. Some contributors suggest that in low-gravity environments, like the moon Phobos, humans could achieve temporary flight through enhanced jumping. Ultimately, the consensus leans towards the idea that human flight is not possible in the conventional sense but may be achievable through technology.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic aerodynamics and human anatomy
  • Familiarity with propulsion technologies, such as jetpacks
  • Knowledge of low-gravity environments and their effects on human movement
  • Awareness of historical advancements in flight technology, including the Wright Brothers' contributions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the design and functionality of modern jetpacks
  • Explore the principles of aerodynamics as they apply to human flight
  • Investigate the effects of low gravity on human physiology and movement
  • Study the history of flight technology and its evolution over time
USEFUL FOR

Aerospace engineers, technology enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the intersection of human capabilities and flight technology.

jeremylorino
Is human flight possible? I'm not talking about flapping your wings. I'm talking about flying like Superman. I think it's possible. Does anyone have an explanation? I fly all the time in my dreams and I feel like I could fly in real life. Please be serious about this post because I am.
 
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No. But I'll let some other members respond before I lock this.
 
The only mechanism of propulsion would be super-flatulence. Do you really want a fart of Kryptonian proportions let loose on our planet?
 
jeremylorino said:
Is human flight possible? I'm not talking about flapping your wings. I'm talking about flying like Superman. I think it's possible. Does anyone have an explanation? I fly all the time in my dreams and I feel like I could fly in real life. Please be serious about this post because I am.

Watch this!


Superman is supposed to fly based on powers that we don't understand. So the answer is, first, yes, we can fly like jetman, as linked above, and we could fly like superman if we discovered some means of flight that we don't currently recognize, but that allows flight like superman, but in the end it would just be another version of jetman - it would be based on some sort of technology. Beyond that we are into questions like, can God make you fly, and we can't go there; nor do we want to. :biggrin:
 
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jeremylorino said:
Is human flight possible? I'm not talking about flapping your wings. I'm talking about flying like Superman. I think it's possible. Does anyone have an explanation? I fly all the time in my dreams and I feel like I could fly in real life. Please be serious about this post because I am.

I suggest you don't test your hypothesis that you can fly in real life. It could turn out bad.

What you "feel" doesn't necessarily correspond to the truth. For example, I felt like I could sing, but I have been told otherwise.:rolleyes:

(Evo, you must be having a boring Friday night to let this thread keep brewing.:biggrin:)
 
You can take flying lessons...

 
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G01 said:
I suggest you don't test your hypothesis that you can fly in real life. It could turn out bad.

What you "feel" doesn't necessarily correspond to the truth. For example, I felt like I could sing, but I have been told otherwise.:rolleyes:

(Evo, you must be having a boring Friday night to let this thread keep brewing.:biggrin:)
Well, I was thinking that someone would explain from a practical standpoint that the human body is not aerodynamic and would pretty much defy known laws for a human to just lift off the ground and fly, especially without moving anybody parts (like superman). Even a bird won't fly if it doesn't move.
 
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jeremylorino said:
Is human flight possible? I'm not talking about flapping your wings. I'm talking about flying like Superman. I think it's possible. Does anyone have an explanation? I fly all the time in my dreams and I feel like I could fly in real life. Please be serious about this post because I am.

Yep, it is possible.

Birds couldn't fly millions of years ago?
 
Taking the OP's question seriously, I suppose a human could fly like superman while on another body in the solar system. A small moon such as Phobos for instance. The gravity is low enough that if you were to start out by walking then slowly increased your pace, you could eventually jump high enough to put yourself into temporary orbit around Phobos. If you jumped hard enough, you could possibly surpass escape velocity completely.
 
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  • #10
Some people will try anything;

 
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  • #11
B. Elliott said:
Taking the OP's question seriously, I suppose a human could fly like superman while on another body in the solar system. A small moon such as Phobos for instance. The gravity is low enough that if you were to start out by walking then slowly increased your pace, you could eventually jump high enough to put yourself into temporary orbit around Phobos. If you jumped hard enough, you could possibly surpass escape velocity completely.
Yes, once we get pass the issues of atmosphere and temperature. :-p For that matter just stick him in outer space and give him a push to get him moving.
 
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  • #12
You can fly in a tornado. :biggrin:
 
  • #13
Just remember that originally, Superman could not fly as we see him do now, but only "leap tall buildings in a single bound."

But what I would like to know is if anyone has any idea how he shaves?
 
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  • #14
OAQfirst said:
Just remember that originally, Superman could not fly as we see him do now, but only "leap tall buildings in a single bound."

But what I would like to know is if anyone has any idea how he shaves?
Heat vision and a mirror?
 
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  • #15
DaveC426913 said:
Heat vision and a mirror?
If he can cut/singe his own hair with that, makes me wonder how his eyelids fare during excitable dreams/nightmares...
 
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  • #16
OAQfirst said:
But what I would like to know is if anyone has any idea how he shaves?

One issue of the comic that I have does indeed use that very approach that Dave suggested, with the mirror. In another, earlier, issue, it was stated that his hair and nails don't grow under a yellow sun.
 
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  • #17
G01 said:
I suggest you don't test your hypothesis that you can fly in real life. It could turn out bad.

What you "feel" doesn't necessarily correspond to the truth. For example, I felt like I could sing, but I have been told otherwise.:rolleyes:

(Evo, you must be having a boring Friday night to let this thread keep brewing.:biggrin:)

And don't drop acid.
 
  • #18
TheStatutoryApe said:
And don't drop acid.

First thing that popped into my head.
 
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  • #19
My guess is somewhere between 250mph and 500mph would be fast enough that even a human body would make a descent wing, although some support may be required. It may have already been experience by a pilot ejecting from an aircraft during the short period of time between leaving the ejection seat and deploying the chute.
 
  • #20
Jeff Reid said:
a human body would make a descent wing

It would indeed make a descent wing, but not a decent one. :biggrin:
 
  • #21
It's not flying exactly but probably as close as you're going to get without a jet pack or some sort of antigrav device...
 
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  • #22
I believe the Wright Brothers heard the same thing from everyone when they proposed there flying device ... It will be ... I am actually putting together and will test some ideas to make this possible... I am currently in the design phase of creating a superman suite ... With all of Supermans powers ... the current problem we have is that a human can only run at 26 miles per hour before there knee pop out of socket/ and or break ... the flying idea will be done as seen in the iron man movie ... through jet thrust ... more of a suite than actually like superman but ... close ... the suite will be powered by thousands of solar cells ... solar cells are used in very expensive watches to make them last for a thousand years ... and of course using the suns energy to give the whole suite power ... As Superman receives his powers from the sun ...we will too ... Any comments or Ideas let me know ... Man has thrived on making the impossible, possible . Jesus walked on water ... Man can create a suite as a will ...
 
  • #23
Evo said:
Well, I was thinking that someone would explain from a practical standpoint that the human body is not aerodynamic and would pretty much defy known laws for a human to just lift off the ground and fly, especially without moving anybody parts (like superman). Even a bird won't fly if it doesn't move.

To be clear, according to original canon, superman's ability was not to "fly" but jump extraordinarily high.
 
  • #24
tavernarijare said:
I believe the Wright Brothers heard the same thing from everyone when they proposed there flying device ... It will be ... I am actually putting together and will test some ideas to make this possible... I am currently in the design phase of creating a superman suite ... With all of Supermans powers ... the current problem we have is that a human can only run at 26 miles per hour before there knee pop out of socket/ and or break ... the flying idea will be done as seen in the iron man movie ... through jet thrust ... more of a suite than actually like superman but ... close ... the suite will be powered by thousands of solar cells ... solar cells are used in very expensive watches to make them last for a thousand years ... and of course using the suns energy to give the whole suite power ... As Superman receives his powers from the sun ...we will too ... Any comments or Ideas let me know ... Man has thrived on making the impossible, possible . Jesus walked on water ... Man can create a suite as a will ...

I believe you are wrong ...
 
  • #25
http://www.bird-man.com/video/Rocket_Bird_iNet.wmv a more advanced idea of this video ...
 
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  • #26
what am i wrong about ... Jesus not walking on water ?
 
  • #27
tavernarijare said:
what am i wrong about ... Jesus not walking on water ?

That would be the one. I can't walk on water either, but I've been known to run on alcohol for extended periods.
Actually, anybody who can walk at all can walk on water. Just wait for winter.
 
  • #28
If you never wake up you can fly all you want. If you can find some way of putting your hands under your feet and lifting yourself up, that would work too. But first make sure to videorecord it with an explanation of what you are doing and post it on youtube.

Superman is lame. He'd be much cooler if he couldn't shave at all and had to fly around looking like Grizzly Adams in tights.
 
  • #29

Since that link doesn't work any more.
 
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  • #30
Huckleberry said:
If you never wake up you can fly all you want. If you can find some way of putting your hands under your feet and lifting yourself up, that would work too. But first make sure to videorecord it with an explanation of what you are doing and post it on youtube.

Superman is lame. He'd be much cooler if he couldn't shave at all and had to fly around looking like Grizzly Adams in tights.

If superman was lame he would act something like you ... Superman is bad *** ... also the thrusters are a work in progress ... goin to run bendable copper pipes to remove any heat ... work as a computer heatsink does ...
 

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