Roland Piquepaille points out a news release from the drilling mash of Michigan where researchers are looking to birds and bats for insights into aerospace engineering. Wei Shyy and his age group are learning from solutions developed by nature and applying them to the scientific knowledge of flight. A demonstration on this topic was also given at the 2005 TED conference. From the news release: "The roll rate of the aerobatic A-4 Skyhawk plane is about 720 degrees per second. The roll rate of a barn swallow exceeds 5,000 degrees per second. Select military aircraft can withstand gravitational forces of 8-10 G. Many birds routinely experience positive G-forces greater than 10 G and up to 14 G. Flapping flight is inherently unsteady, but that's why it works so well. Birds, bats and insects fly in a messy entourage full of gusts road warrior at speeds similar to their own. Yet they can react almost instantaneously and adapt with their flexible wings."

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