as we know, it is physically impossible for bees to fly and we don’t have much luck either and so to get a taste of the flying experience without worrying too much about such things as the wealth/beard of Richard Branson or the woes of Ryanair…

electrically assisted wings (that imitated the frantic beatings of bee wings) could probably get enough lift if they were plugged into the national grid.

of course, you wouldn’t actually be able to fly very far and it would be advisable to avoid overhead cables, trees, predators and things…

required: a very, very long extension lead plugged into a local power source (you’d probably need permission from the person who pays the bill if you’re not over keen on hospital food and this experiment is risky enough any way)

for neatness sake, the power lead from the wings could pass down through the clothes past a retractable gizmo (in order that there were not metres and metres of unnecessary power cord flexing and flapping away beneath you) and out through the bottom of your trouser leg.
-- po, Feb 13 2006

Bee flight mechanism now understood http://www.newscien...channel/life/dn8382
Who says bees can't fly? [gtoal, Feb 13 2006]

Solar powered glider http://science.nasa...3/02may_bigblue.htm
Of course, if it needs solar power, it ain't really a glider, is it? [DrCurry, Feb 15 2006]

Bee On A Stick Bee_20On_20A_20Stick
becomes People on a Stick! [ldischler, Feb 15 2006]

(?) Full-size ornithopter http://www.ornithop...ages/99run-full.jpg
[DrCurry, Feb 15 2006]

//...out through the bottom of your trouser leg// unless you were dressed up as Mary Poppins.
-- hippo, Feb 13 2006


Mawry powpinns?
-- po, Feb 14 2006


Given that gyroscopes don't need to be plugged into the grid, I don't especially see why an ornithopter would need to be either. Just strap on a two-stroke and flap away.

Having said that, I do wonder if anyone has (lately) tried to build an ornithopter capable of carrying a human. We ought to have the technology by now, however it is powered. -- Ah, yes, someone has; looks like it uses a regular plane motor.
-- DrCurry, Feb 15 2006


+ Or rotating ducted blades, or is that cheating? :)
-- sartep, Feb 16 2006


Dispense with the power cable - Wireless is the way to go.
-- Dub, Feb 17 2006


Cor, and I expect you to deliver more....
-- 4whom, Oct 30 2007


We have predators?
-- Shadow Phoenix, Oct 30 2007


women you knew before you dated them.
-- po, Oct 31 2007



random, halfbakery