Aerodynamics of Gliding Flight of A Black Vulture Coragyps Atratus
Open Access
- 1 October 1970
- journal article
- Published by The Company of Biologists in Journal Of Experimental Biology
- Vol. 53 (2), 363-374
- https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.53.2.363
Abstract
A black vulture (mass = 179 kg) gliding freely in a wind tunnel adjusted its wing span and wing area as its air speed and glide angle changed from 9·9 to 16·8 m/s and from 4·8° to 7·9°, respectively. The minimum sinking speed was 1·09 m/s at an air speed of 11·3 m/s. The maximum ratio of lift to drag forces was 11·6 at an air speed of 13·9 m/s. Parasite drag coefficients for the vulture are similar to those for conventional airfoils and do not support the contention that black vultures have unusually low values of parasite drag.Keywords
This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
- Aerodynamics of Gliding Flight in A Falcon and Other BirdsJournal Of Experimental Biology, 1970
- A Wind-Tunnel Study of Gliding Flight in the Pigeon Columba LiviaJournal Of Experimental Biology, 1968
- Respiratory Exchange and Evaporative Water Loss in the Flying BudgerigarJournal Of Experimental Biology, 1968
- Oxygen Consumption of a Flying BirdScience, 1966
- PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM NEW METHODS OF INVESTIGATING THE PHYSIOLOGY OF BIRDS DURING FLIGHTIbis, 1963
- Biophysics of Bird FlightScience, 1960
- Gliding Flight of the Fulmar PetrelJournal Of Experimental Biology, 1960