There are many types of avian winged human. I will break the classification here down into general wing types/categories. The descriptions are generalizations and should never be applied to any individual.
Raptor
Those with raptor wings find that their wings are designed for soaring. Soaring allows them to expend less energy to fly. In order to soar they use three main techniques; ridge lift or slope soaring, thermal soaring, and dynamic soaring.
Slope soaring is using air currents which provide an updraft, such as those up the side of a mountain or tall building. They can use these air currents to gain altitude.
Thermal soaring is using a hot, ascending column of air to rise. This is a natural phenomena that happens when the warmer air near the ground rises into the colder air in the atmosphere.
Dynamic soaring uses gusts of wind in order to maintain a certain altitude. Using this technique, they fly downwind in a descent then turn rapidly into the gusting wind. Their speed drops from the force of the wind, but as the air flows rapidly over the top of the wings it creates lift. They are buffeted upward.
Hummingbird
Those with hummingbird wings are incredibly maneuverable. They are amazing because unlike the other winged humans, they can actually hover in one place. Their wings beat so quickly that they are generally a blur, though when at rest they are generally quite colorful.
Due to the intense energy used in order to fly [with wings that beat from 20 to 80 times a second], hummingbird wingers consume large quantities of calories, and often carry high caloric sweet drinks with them in order to recharge. They are not generally sent on long distance flights.
Albatros
Another master of soaring, the albatross are able able to glide over vast tracts of ocean, or land without flapping their wings. So fully have they adapted to their airborne existence that one albatross winger stayed in the air for six years!
Owl
Owl wingers are gifted with large wings resulting in low wing loading and a low aspect ratio, contribute to noise reduction by allowing slow flight. The serrations on the leading edge of the wing and the velvet-like surface have an effect on noise reduction and also lead to an improvement of aerodynamic performance. In other words, owls are practically silent in flight and have the ability to fly very slowly.
Comments