AERODYNAMICS OF GLIDING FLIGHT IN A HARRIS' HAWK

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 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.

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_Photo..._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

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_Photo..._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).

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

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

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