Airplanes that Flap?
A research team at NASA has created a futuristic plane concept of a plane that flies just like a bird. It will arch its broad wings up and then flap them down in one continuous, fluid motion. There will be no turbines, propellers, flaps or rudders in the way—just a smooth, flattened body so the wings can glide up and down. Why fly like a bird? Researcher Anthony Colozza says energy efficiency is the main reason. His team was inspired by the albatross, a bird that can glide great distances and circle over the same area for long periods of time, flapping only to regain altitude. Another advantage is control. To maneuver, the solid-state aircraft will adjust its wings into complex shapes, much as birds do, rather than using flaps or other moving surfaces. Colozza thinks the new aircraft could become a reality within a decade or two.
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