The migratory white stork has been a welcome visitor to Europe for centuries. It seems to display a peculiar affinity for human beings, building its huge stick nests on their rooftops and chimneys, foraging in their fields, and playing starring roles in their myths and legends. It eats mice and rats, is thought to bring good luck and provides prudes with a polite explanation of the provenance of babies.
How the Stork Inspired Human Flight
Key Takeaways:
- Inspired by observing white storks, the Lilienthal brothers conducted methodical scientific research into the mechanics of bird flight.
- Their pioneering studies led to crucial discoveries about aerodynamics, including optimal airfoil shapes, the function of camber, and the relationship between angle of attack, lift, and drag.
- Applying these insights, Otto Lilienthal invented the weight-shift hang glider, making 2,000 pioneering flights between 1891 and 1896 and establishing himself as the first pilot.
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