I'm very happy to see them doing this project, as well. However, I am slightly concerned with the apparent fixation/focus on using the head and crest to generate the rolling and yawing moments. It can be used to do so, but a) the wings should still be the primary control surface (especially for roll) and b) Ross Elgin et al have data suggesting that large turning moments about the head would be damaging to the upper cervicals and basicranium in most taxa (dsungeripterids, with their massively expanded post-occipital process might have bucked the trend in this regard).
Still, it's neat stuff :)
--Mike
On Oct 7, 2008, at 1:18 AM, jrc wrote:
Doesn't matter that it has been done before, and doesn't matter thant pterosaurs aren't dinosaurs -- I'm glad to see Sankar doing it !!
I don't know if the group of previous builders they're joining is select, but it sure is small :-)
JimC
P.S. If they are doing a true membrane wing, they are in for quite a steep learning curve. If a semi-rigid wing like MacCready, it will be a lot easier.
Michael Habib, M.S. PhD. Candidate Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution Johns Hopkins School of Medicine 1830 E. Monument Street Baltimore, MD 21205 (443) 280-0181 habib@jhmi.edu