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Flight Theory - It's An Unsolved Science Dilemma

To: "'Philip Veerman'" <>, <>
Subject: Flight Theory - It's An Unsolved Science Dilemma
From: "Stephen Ambrose" <>
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2020 16:21:07 +1100
Philip,

I think you may be missing the point here.  It's clear that air flows faster 
over the top of a curved wing than below and this creates lift.  Hence, planes 
are designed to allow that to happen and allow them to fly.  The unresolved 
question is why, precisely, the air flows faster over the top of the wing than 
underneath it.  Bernoulli's Theorem and Newton's Third Law of Physics where 
applied to aerodynamics from the early 20th Century onwards and explain most, 
but not all, the reasons for this difference in air velocity. The Scientific 
American article summarises how computational fluid dynamics are refining (not 
replacing) our understanding of lift by suggesting the possible role of 
additional factors.

Stephen Ambrose
Ryde NSW


-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus <> On Behalf Of Philip 
Veerman
Sent: 11 October 2020 2:08 PM
To: 
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Flight Theory - It's An Unsolved Science Dilemma

Amazing how much chat this generates. Science generally requires an idea or 
question based on observation (e.g. from birds flying), from which we generate 
a hypothesis, it is then tested (typically by experiment). I suggest the number 
of successful plane flights generates more than sufficient testing of the 
hypothesis and thus explaining why. 

Philip

-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus  On Behalf Of 
Stephen Ambrose
Sent: Sunday, 11 October, 2020 12:34 PM
To: 'Chris Charles'; 'Chris Corben'; 'Chris Shaw'
Cc: 
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Flight Theory - It's An Unsolved Science Dilemma

Chris Charles, I think Chris Shaw may have seen this article in the Scientific 
American.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/no-one-can-explain-why-planes-stay-in-the-air/


The title of the article is probably a bit overstated. No one disagrees about 
the physical features and air movement required to provide lift, just the 
mathematics that explains it. 

Stephen Ambrose
Ryde NSW


-----Original Message-----
From: Birding-Aus <> On Behalf Of Chris 
Charles
Sent: 9 October 2020 9:03 AM
To: Chris Corben <>
Cc: 
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Flight Theory - It's An Unsolved Science Dilemma

Chris, Excitedly anticipating my next flight. 
There is always some aspect that warrants more research but what is the 
reference for your nervousness?
Chris Charles


www.licole.com.au
m("licole","//unsplash.com/");">https:
Sent from my iPhone

> On 9 Oct 2020, at 4:05 am, Chris Corben via Birding-Aus 
> <> wrote:
> 
> What!?
> 
> A brick can produce lift if you use it the right way. Where is the mystery?
> 
> Cheers, Chris.
> 
> 
>> On 10/8/2020 2:26 AM, Chris Shaw via Birding-Aus wrote:
>> Believe it or not there is no scientifically verifiable explanation of why 
>> wings produce lift and the smaller the critter the more baffling it becomes. 
>> I love watching pelicans fly. They don't know the theory of flight has gone 
>> west. Both main theories that have been around for years have problems and 
>> there is yet still no definitive answer, so be careful getting on the next 
>> aeroplane.
>> 
>> My pelicans can be seen on
>> 
>> https://www.ararelitus.com/birds-1
>> <HR>
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> 
> -- 
> 
> Chris Corben.
> 
> 
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