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Originally Posted by bloodhound31
Mark, thank you for this insight and thorough answer. Perhaps that's why the birds in this blokes dream are all dead because they crash into stuff..
I am no expert, but I agree, that a bird would be used to countering gravity and therefore would lose some control in none.
I thought similar about the more aerobatic species too, as a moth, with a relatively slow wingbeat, might have less directional and momentun/inertia control than something with a much faster wingbeat say, like a bee.
I bet an eagle would have great difficulty in zero g, but a hummingbird would have no problem.
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I did consider a Humming bird, as that seems like an intuitively good choice, but realized that it is essentially a helicopter (thrust versus gravity) for most of its flying life. This means that it would be the most affected bird perhaps of all in that its major consideration - gravity - is removed.
I think the dynamics of a zero-G environment call for a small, agile, lightweight flier, something which avoid fast or erratic movements. Also, a wing which produces thrust along the longitudinal axis (unlike a hummingbird) and turns would require a full 90deg bank (like what Swallows do).
Unusual that "lightweight" is a consideration in a zero-G environment, until we start looking at rotational mass, then we must consider that it takes the same amount of force to arrest a roll as what it takes to enter the roll, otherwise the roll will continue.
It's a big call...not sure if any bird could do it.