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Thread: UPDATED: Human Birdwings first flight ... or was it?

  1. #11
    Dana's Avatar
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    It's not fake, it's just... no big deal. Nothing more than anybody could do running with a hang glider or paraglider. I've done it myself with a paraglider.

  2. #12
    If anyone will take the time to carefully stop these frames at the point of the first sort of "bird hop" you will see the wings are flapping to rise about 10 feet above ground line at the base of the trees! Also notice the shadow cast onto the ground as the flyer lifts off the ground! Albeit this is but a short short series of hops - but don't forget the Wright Bros., had some very short hops as well!

  3. #13

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    Fake.
    Notice how the camera points to the ground just before the so called flight attempt, and then points to the ground again before they show him just after the so called flight attempt.
    I believe this is so they don't have to transition from real video to fake and back to real video.

  4. #14
    EAA Staff / Moderator Hal Bryan's Avatar
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    Here's another video from Jarno the "flying" (?) Dutchman:



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYW5G2kbrKk

    What do you think?

    Hal Bryan
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    EAA—The Spirit of Aviation

  5. #15
    Dana's Avatar
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    The new video is clearly fake. It's obvious that the wing sails are not loaded, i.e. not producing lift. Furthermore there is no way it could be stable or controllable.

  6. #16
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    I previously posted that no hoax was being perpetrated because there was no "wow" factor in the original video. This video is clearly a bird of a different colour with a "wow" factor that is so huge it's beyond comprehension and credibility.

    Same conclusion as before: a human being, no matter how well conditioned, with the most technologicaly advanced bird-like wings cannot run fast enough, cannot flap their arms fast enough or long enough to sustain anything resembling flight from a ground take-off. Must applaud the pilot's acting skills though, he is very convincing playing out of breathe and exausted from the ordeal.

  7. #17
    EAA Staff / Moderator Hal Bryan's Avatar
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    Overall I agree, just one minor point (that admittedly doesn't really change anything) - the "pilot" isn't powering the wings himself. He's (allegedly) using a Bluetooth connection via a modified Wii remote to direct their motion as powered by electric motors. So strength isn't an issue, but that doesn't speak to any of the other problems.

    Hal Bryan
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    Vintage 714005 | Warbirds 553527
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  8. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hal Bryan View Post
    Overall I agree, just one minor point (that admittedly doesn't really change anything) - the "pilot" isn't powering the wings himself. He's (allegedly) using a Bluetooth connection via a modified Wii remote to direct their motion as powered by electric motors. So strength isn't an issue, but that doesn't speak to any of the other problems.

    Hal, you have great powers of observation. I viewed the video again and still don't see any of the Bluetooth stuff. Where exactly is it in the timing?

  9. #19
    Dana's Avatar
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    It doesn't show in the video... the stuff about the Wii and BT was in an earlier description. But either way, there's clearly nothing visible (batteries or motors) large enough to provide any meaningful amount of power.

    It's part of the "almost plausible" bits... some guys actually are using Wii parts as the stability and control system of R/C quadcopters. But here, it's ridiculous.

  10. #20
    EAA Staff / Moderator Hal Bryan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Floatsflyer View Post
    Hal, you have great powers of observation. I viewed the video again and still don't see any of the Bluetooth stuff. Where exactly is it in the timing?
    It's true, my observational powers are spectacular, and I have evolved to the point where I can visually perceive waves of Bluetooth energy...

    Or, it's the fact that I've been curious enough about this guy's claims that I've spent a little time at his website, watched earlier videos, etc. Plus, you can see at about the 0:35 - 0:45 mark that there's no apparent physical connection between his arms and the wings.

    It's interesting that this video is part 14 of 14... why would videos documenting an ongoing experiment have a planned ending number?

    My hunch is that a sponsor will come forward and reveal that this is a viral ad campaign, and that a lot of pretty respectable sites / news sources are going to be pretty embarrassed.

    Hal Bryan
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    Vintage 714005 | Warbirds 553527
    Managing Editor
    EAA—The Spirit of Aviation

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