A new study by mechanical engineers Haecheon Choi and Hyungmin Park from Seoul National University in South Korea has found that flying fish can glide better than insects, and as well as birds like petrels. They published their findings Sept. 10 in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
The flying fish is known to be able to fly for over 40 seconds and reach the speed of 70 kilometers per hour (about 43 mph). The researchers found that the tandem arrangement of the fish’s pectoral and pelvic fins allows air to flow toward its tail quickly, enabling it to travel long distances in the short time it can be out of the water. They also found that the fish can glide the farthest when it is near, and parallel to, the surface of the sea.
Choi and Park plan to build an airplane utilizing the technology discovered from this research.
To read the research paper, please visit http://tiny.cc/4sjz0
