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From: raveling@unify.com (Paul Raveling)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation,rec.birds
Subject: Re: The most competent soaring pilots are...
Message-ID: <1990Sep14.171720@unify.com>
Date: 15 Sep 90 00:17:20 GMT
References: <1990Sep11.125658@unify.com> <933@jli.UUCP>
Sender: news@Unify.Com (news admin)
Reply-To: raveling@unify.com (Paul Raveling)
Organization: Unify Corporation, Sacramento, CA, USA
Lines: 42

In article <933@jli.UUCP>, andy@jli.UUCP (Andy Johnson-Laird) writes:
> In article <1990Sep11.125658@unify.com> raveling@unify.com (Paul
Raveling) writes:

> When I got to about 3,700 agl I suddenly noticed I was not alone.
> There was what we Brits call, a "bloody great bird" in the thermal
with me.
> I would estimate a wing span of at least 6 feet (though it's difficult
to 
> get scale at times like this). I remember noting the underside of the
bird
> had lots of white dappling. I also noticed that this BGB (BG bird)
was
> holding....wait for it.... a large *fish* in it's talons. 

	6 feet wingspread + fish sounds like a golden eagle.  I'm not
	sure about white dappling on the underside though; anyone know
	if that's a sign of a young golden eagle?  Or do osprey get that
	large?

> a) What is the terminal velocity of a fish dropped from 3,700 agl?

	I'd guess it would fall head first, stabilized by its tail,
	and might manage to hit 200+ mph.  What a splat that'd make --
	Yuch!

> b) What would the headlines in "The People" read (Earth invaded by
spacefish?)

	    Flying Fish Fall from Fearful Feathered Folk

		--  Pregnant mermaid suspected of cavorting in sky
		    with reincarnated singer, Elvis Eagle

	In staid old "Soaring":

	    Flying Fish Sets National Out and Return Record for Submarines


------------------
Paul Raveling
Raveling@Unify.com