Huh. When I see the pterosaurs depicted as taking off into the air like that (especially when they are parallel to the ground in mid-vault), it makes me think that they will make a faceplant on the ground.
Thank you, mkovacs. It seems in this animation the skull is being used to generate momentum upwards. The skulls of these creatures were very lightly built. I believe the mass of the forelimbs exceeds the mass of the skull, plus air-resistence is a consideration. IMHO, this is less plausible than the scenario I described.
In response to jackkoffin1, yes, this is way better than older ideas. I believe, after picking up speed with a front knuckle/rear leg lope, the creature must raise it's wings while it's rear legs are anchored on the ground, not after. Other words, in this animation, after it balances on the front knuckles, instead of immediately raising the wings, it thrusts the rear forward again, plants the rear feet, then raises wings and launches with a contraction of the spine muscles.
This conversation has been at a dead lock for years. Some one should do a study on whose interested in the flying possibility make a list and duly note there opinion. BUT, in the interest of a real answer i would say to any one listening with influence This subject is a real market, put more money in it, sounds like it has great military applications for urban combat, first one to replicate the dynamics and makes a useful flight wins the right to tell history.
Sorry, this doesn't seem plausible. At the point where the wings are raised, the center of mass will drop, driving the creature into the ground. It will not have gained enough air speed for lift to compensate. It's easy to cheat simulations.
@SPinOG I tend to agree that the simulation seems unreal at the point where the animal is lifting its wings, but at the same time this seems much more likely to be accurate than older concepts wherein the large Pterosaurs flapped their wings like birds (which seems impossible) or simply waited to be borne aloft by updrafts or leaping from cliffs.
Huh. When I see the pterosaurs depicted as taking off into the air like that (especially when they are parallel to the ground in mid-vault), it makes me think that they will make a faceplant on the ground.
TheTrenton39017 1 year ago
I like this. Reminds me a lot of how mallards take of while standing on water. They use their wings to push themselves, instead of their feet.
griggsmat 1 year ago
Thank you, mkovacs. It seems in this animation the skull is being used to generate momentum upwards. The skulls of these creatures were very lightly built. I believe the mass of the forelimbs exceeds the mass of the skull, plus air-resistence is a consideration. IMHO, this is less plausible than the scenario I described.
SPinOG 1 year ago
Fascinating. It retrospect it does seem uncharacteristically naive that we had expected pterasaurs to function the same as birds.
neopunk7 1 year ago 2
In response to jackkoffin1, yes, this is way better than older ideas. I believe, after picking up speed with a front knuckle/rear leg lope, the creature must raise it's wings while it's rear legs are anchored on the ground, not after. Other words, in this animation, after it balances on the front knuckles, instead of immediately raising the wings, it thrusts the rear forward again, plants the rear feet, then raises wings and launches with a contraction of the spine muscles.
SPinOG 1 year ago
Like a flying Gatling gun dinobot with lasers "awsome"
prosimion 1 year ago
This conversation has been at a dead lock for years. Some one should do a study on whose interested in the flying possibility make a list and duly note there opinion. BUT, in the interest of a real answer i would say to any one listening with influence This subject is a real market, put more money in it, sounds like it has great military applications for urban combat, first one to replicate the dynamics and makes a useful flight wins the right to tell history.
prosimion 1 year ago
Sorry, this doesn't seem plausible. At the point where the wings are raised, the center of mass will drop, driving the creature into the ground. It will not have gained enough air speed for lift to compensate. It's easy to cheat simulations.
SPinOG 1 year ago
@SPinOG I tend to agree that the simulation seems unreal at the point where the animal is lifting its wings, but at the same time this seems much more likely to be accurate than older concepts wherein the large Pterosaurs flapped their wings like birds (which seems impossible) or simply waited to be borne aloft by updrafts or leaping from cliffs.
jackkoffin1 1 year ago
@SPinOG Note that the heavy skull is lifted high during the vault, then snaps down to compensate as the wings thrust up and out.
mkovacs 1 year ago
Ha! Very pleasing. I've been trying to find vampire bat ground launching clips for comparison...
nedkogar 1 year ago
excellent!
vermelhored 2 years ago