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From: bill@utastro.UUCP (William H. Jefferys)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Paul MacCready and Pterosaurs
Message-ID: <676@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 8-Sep-85 15:31:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.676
Posted: Sun Sep  8 15:31:55 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Sep-85 07:38:27 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 34

I noticed with some interest in this morning's paper that Paul 
MacCready (who built the Gossamer Condor and the Gossamer
Albatross - the first successful human-powered flying machines) 
is now building a full-scale, flying replica of *Quetzalcoatlus 
northropi*, the largest of the pterosaurs.  The replica is 
intended to be accurate as to size and weight and power, and
will operate in a fashion similar to the original creature.
They are being assisted in this by a team of paleontologists
headed by Professor Wann Langston, Jr.,  of the University of
Texas.  According to the article [1],

	"Flight was possible for the giant pterosaur
	because it was very light.  The lightness resulted
	from thin-walled, hollow bones, which Langston
	compared to a mailing tube with Styrofoam plugs
	on each end."

The fact that Paul MacCready, probably the world's foremost expert
in the field of lightweight muscle-powered aircraft, thinks that it
possible to build a full-scale flying replica of this creature,
is strong evidence to me that Ted Holden has been talking through
his hat.

[1] Austin American-Statesman, September 8, 1985.  B-1.

-- 
Glend.	I can call spirits from the vasty deep.
Hot.	Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you
	do call them?    --  Henry IV Pt. I, III, i, 53

	Bill Jefferys  8-%
	Astronomy Dept, University of Texas, Austin TX 78712   (USnail)
	{allegra,ihnp4}!{ut-sally,noao}!utastro!bill	(UUCP)
	bill@astro.UTEXAS.EDU.				(Internet)