Re: birds and pterosaurs (long)

[jrc <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

They were flap-gliders. Primarily soarers with the capability of very 
powerful flapping in short bursts of perhaps 1 to about 70 wingbeats 
depending inversely upon size (flapping in anaerobic bursts of roughly 30-45 
seconds or less).  Their wings were more efficient than those of 
albatrosses, but their heads and necks were draggier.  For equivilent size, 
overall flight performance could be expected to be roughly similar with 
pterosaurs perhaps having a bit of an edge.  Mike is right in that 
pterosaurs' wing planform is more specialized for extracting energy by 
dynamic soaring, lee shear, and cloud streets than for inland thermals. 
They would, however be able to use inland or marine thermals quite 
effectively as well.  Wing loading, wingspan, and performance were quite 
similar to some one-man sailplanes.  The big ones were not lightly loaded, 
but they did have a tendency toward spanloading -- which allows very large 
wingspans.
JimC



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roberto Takata" <rmtakata@gmail.com>
To: <mhabib5@jhmi.edu>
Cc: <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2005 1:55 AM
Subject: Re: birds and pterosaurs (long)


> Is still validy the assumption that pterosaur was mainly a soaring
> flier (a some kind of big kite)?