Landing gear observations
Billb
grounded observer the last few days in Depoe Bay, but my windowed
perch a riser's length up provided ample opportunity to marvel at the
power of wind and wave as both assaulted the rocky shore below.
Numerous seagulls soared in the lift along the front of the cliff and
in the lift caused by the building in which I was confined.
Repeatedly they attacked, seeming to assault the cliff side in small
groups with straffing runs, their streamlined forms deceptively
confident in their assorted missions. They were absorbed in the
rapture of flying with their own waterproof speedwings. ;)
But one flew with landing gear down. Its lack of smooth contour
captured my attention. As I watched, it stayed mostly in one area:
about 10 feet in front of my window, tacking right and left in a 10
foot swath for probably 30 seconds. With toes spread wide, it seemed
to use its webbed feet as if for balance or steerage. I wondered why
this bird was different - could this be Jonathon Livingston,
attempting to do something forbidden by the rules of the flock? Then
carefully, almost timid, it banked steeper at the extremes of its
turns and carved its way lower to touch down gracefully on the grass
near the edge of the precipice.
Observations from a familiar free-flight perspective:
- The gull must have had good training for it know to lower its gear
well before landing.
- I saw no spirals or wingovers, just low risk purposeful maneuvering
- The "tacking" back and forth were "figure 8s" at the lee end of the
intended LZ
- There were many small wing fluctuations to compensate for invisible
turbulence. This active flying was similar to judicious brake
applications and weight shifting
- The "top landing" occurred in low thermal conditions
- Jonathon collapsed and folded its wing right after landing too. :)
Any other flight reports today??? Please?
Bill B
pch...@comcast.net
Landing gear down on seagull to add drag so it can "hover" more in the wind?
I've seen the hawks and crows do this to hover while hunting. They also flip their tip feathers up and the inboard feathers down to hover in the wind.