Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Science
  4. / General Science

by Zenrean on June 7th, 2009

Zenrean

Question

Help answer this question below.

If humans had wings how long would they have to be for humans to fly?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. 6 helpful answers below.

  • by Im Alec has abandoned this account on June 7th, 2009

    Im Alec has abandoned this account

    It is not the wings, it is the muscles needed to flap them. You can tell how long wings we would need to glide by looking at hang-gliders: they are designed to be just the right size for one human. But actually to fly - depends on the muscles. If we had the muscles of an albatross, which mostly glides and has considerable difficulty taking off, about the same size as a hang glider. If we could flap the wings much, much faster, like a humming bird, probably only a few feet. The guy who flew the channel with a jet trapped to his back had a total wingspan of only about six feet.

    • Like
    • Report

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • by Bookworm on June 7th, 2009

    Bookworm

    I've heard estimates as high as 30 feet, and we'd need hollow bones.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Tveg on June 7th, 2009

    Tveg

    I would guess we could glide with about an 18' wingspan. Liftoff under our own power would not be feasible due to our relative weight.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Anonymous on June 7th, 2009

    Three times the height lol

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Mikelbf2000 on June 7th, 2009

    Mikelbf2000

    We couldnt, Our bodies are too heavy and we are not aerodynamic in shape.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Aaran592 on November 13th, 2011

    Aaran592

    NO!!!!! JEESE PEOPLE!!! Before you start guesstimating on wing size and muscle mass and body weight, think about this:
    #1 the human body already has enough strength to lift a FREAKING CAR!!! I think we'll be able to flap a pair of wings.
    #2 you are over-thinking the wing size. If we really tried, and we had a hang glider with a hinge in the middle, flapping an average hang glider's wings once about every second( which, if you really think about it, is a really long time) you could get enough lift to get off the ground, of course, just putting a hinge in the middle wouldn't allow it to move right.
    #3 if we could get airspeeds of maybe 15 mph, we would only need about a 6 ft (2 meter) wingspan to get off the ground. So go glue some feathers to a yardstick and duct tape one to each of your arms and run forest run!
    So, if anyone would like to help me, i have an idea for light-weight, strap-on wings, but i'm no good at actually building them. So if you would like to contact me, my e-mail address is nico_sampson@Yahoo.com help me acheive a dream that we all want fulfilled.
    this rant has been inspired by: my love of flying and the maximum ride novels by james patterson.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading If humans had wings how long would they have to be for humans to fly?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

If humans had wings could they fly
If a human had wings how long would the wingspan be
If humans had wings how big would they have to be in order to fly
How long would wings have to be for humans to fly
If humans had wings how long would the wingspan be

Answerbag

a Demand Media company