Re: Archaeopteryx flight

[jrc <jrccea@bellsouth.net>]

The fingers can act as vortex generators, which serve a purpose very similar 
to that of the alula.  Alulas are not long enough to make effective slats or 
slots, so tend to work more as vg's or snags, as do pterosaur hands and very 
likely, early bird hands.  Pat is correct.  And, vg's have been tested many 
times, on airplanes.
JimC

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Patrick Norton" <ptnorton@suscom-maine.net>
To: <augray@sympatico.ca>; "Dinosaur Mailing List" <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2005 4:49 PM
Subject: Re: Archaeopteryx flight


> Jon Barber wrote (in part):
>
> > D) It lacked an alula, which assists in low-speed flight and 
> > maneuverability control.<
>
> It's been my hypothesis for a long time that the aerodynamic function of 
> the alula could have been fulfilled by the exposed finger claws of early 
> birds such as Archie (see my post from several years ago at 
> http://dml.cmnh.org/2001Jan/msg00543.html).