Re: Glider questions

[Stanley Friesen <sarima@ix.netcom.com>]

At 03:56 PM 9/27/99 -0700, dbensen wrote:
>Remember the butterfly-wing experiments?  It was found that big wings are good
>for lift and really big wings are better, but small wings, i.e. the
>intermediate stage between having no wings at all and having fully developed
>wings, have no beneficial effect on aerodynamics at all.  Also, it was found
>that chitonous extensions of the exoskeleton of insects acted as radiators
made
>their heat-regualtion more efficient.  ...  Therefor, we can assume that
primitive
>insects evolved heat regulators that, through selection, became larger and
>larger, and at a certain point, became useful as wings.
>
This is one of *two* good models for the origin of insect flight.

The other involves derivation from semi-aquatic forms similar to dragonfly
nymphs.  It turns out that small extensions of the thorax have some useful
properties in a "nymph" trying to get to shore to lay eggs (I do not
remember the details, unfortunately).

This model has the advantage of starting with some of the least derived of
living insects - and one of the oldest living orders based on the fossil
record.

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May the peace of God be with you.         sarima@ix.netcom.com