Turning flight of bats | Zendy

Heather D. Aldridge | Zendy

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Turning flight of bats

Author(s) -

Heather D. Aldridge

Publication year - 1987

Publication title -

journal of experimental biology

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 1.367

H-Index - 185

eISSN - 1477-9145

pISSN - 0022-0949

DOI - 10.1242/jeb.128.1.419

Subject(s) - flapping , wing , acceleration , curvature , wing loading , aerospace engineering , geology , geodesy , physics , acoustics , angle of attack , aerodynamics , mechanics , geometry , engineering , mathematics , classical mechanics

The turning flight of six microchiropteran bat species is described. The bats' abilities to turn tightly were determined by their abilities to fly slowly and to generate high lateral accelerations. Rhinolophus ferrumequinum developed high lateral accelerations by flapping its banked wings while flying at very low speed. Plecotus auritus turned at relatively low speed and at low lateral acceleration. The other species were all moving fast as they turned and generated lateral accelerations either by developing high bank angles or by flapping their wings with low bank angles. There was a significant correlation between wing loading and turning curvature, indicating that low wing loadings improve manoeuvrability.

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