AERODYNAMICS OF GLIDING FLIGHT IN A HARRIS' HAWK

[Doug Haluza]

Stumbled across an interesting wind tunnel test of a Harris' Hawk
(L/D=10:1).

http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/149/1/469.pdf

[[email protected]]

Doug Haluza wrote:
> Stumbled across an interesting wind tunnel test of a Harris' Hawk
> (L/D=10:1).
>
> http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/149/1/469.pdf

That is awesome, now the Hawks can derive polar coefficients to program
into their flight computers.

[Wayne Paul]

Doug,

That is really pretty good for an accipiter that catches song birds in
flight. I wonder what they would come up with on one of the soaring raptors
(Swainson, Red Tail, Golden Eagle, Turkey Vulture, etc.)
(http://www.soaridaho.com/Guest_Photos/Birds/Brad_and_Hawk.html)

Wayne

"Doug Haluza" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Stumbled across an interesting wind tunnel test of a Harris' Hawk
> (L/D=10:1).
>
> http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/149/1/469.pdf
>

[Doug Haluza]

Wayne Paul wrote:
> Doug,
>
> That is really pretty good for an accipiter that catches song birds in
> flight. I wonder what they would come up with on one of the soaring raptors
> (Swainson, Red Tail, Golden Eagle, Turkey Vulture, etc.)
> (http://www.soaridaho.com/Guest_Photos/Birds/Brad_and_Hawk.html)
>
> Wayne
>
> "Doug Haluza" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
> > Stumbled across an interesting wind tunnel test of a Harris' Hawk
> > (L/D=10:1).
> >
> > http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/149/1/469.pdf
> >

They had a polar comparison with a Black Vulture, but it was not as
good, sort of like the 1-26 of raptors? ;-)

OK, before you flame me, I did my Diamond Goal in a 1-26 (twice).

[Roger Worden]

If the hawk had lice, would it increase his parasite drag?

"Doug Haluza" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Stumbled across an interesting wind tunnel test of a Harris' Hawk
> (L/D=10:1).
>
> http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/149/1/469.pdf
>

[bagmaker]

I dont know what is more fascinating to me, the fact that a hawk has a L/D of 10:1 or that at least 2 boffins got paid for 4 months to measure it.

Seriosly, having shared airspace with a few feathered critters, I am amazed not in the gliding ability - (a wedgetail eagle is not as good as an LS-4!) -but in their ability to locate thermals. I am told its their fantastic eyesight, they can see bugs and dust rising better than we can.
I have actually had one wait for me to catch up, thermalling a blue day and although slightly off track, the birds judgement was close enough and hello, the strongest lift of the day!

As a side, Australian Wedgies are almost scary to fly with, they look at you with contempt and have taken a few bites at gliders in the past. Its probably a mating/ territory thing -Hang glider pilots can rightly be particularly nervous.
Pelicans are just magnificent but will seldom share a thermal with you, always leaving within a lap or two for quieter air. They seem to be un-affected by thermic gusts, perhaps due to their larger bulk.

Ibis are a great thermal marker, usually rotating in flocks and happy to have you churning around the outside of their core. Damn ugly, though.


Bagmaker

[Doug]

Good one.

"Roger Worden" > wrote in message
. ..
> If the hawk had lice, would it increase his parasite drag?
>
> "Doug Haluza" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>> Stumbled across an interesting wind tunnel test of a Harris' Hawk
>> (L/D=10:1).
>>
>> http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/reprint/149/1/469.pdf
>>
>
>