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Cited by 46Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanismsAerospace and Aviation TechnologyAvian ecology and behavior

Soaring energetics and glide performance in a moving atmosphere

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Taylor, Graham K., Reynolds, Kate V., Thomas, Adrian L. R.·2016·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
DOI 10.1098/rstb.2015.0398PMC PMC4992722
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Abstract

Here, we analyse the energetics, performance and optimization of flight in a moving atmosphere. We begin by deriving a succinct expression describing all of the mechanical energy flows associated with gliding, dynamic soaring and thermal soaring, which we use to explore the optimization of gliding in an arbitrary wind. We use this optimization to revisit the classical theory of the glide polar, which we expand upon in two significant ways. First, we compare the predictions of the glide polar for different species under the various published models. Second, we derive a glide optimization chart that maps every combination of headwind and updraft speed to the unique combination of airspeed and inertial sink rate at which the aerodynamic cost of transport is expected to be minimized. With these theoretical tools in hand, we test their predictions using empirical data collected from a captive steppe eagle ( Aquila nipalensis ) carrying an inertial measurement unit, global positioning system, barometer and pitot tube. We show that the bird adjusts airspeed in relation to headwind speed as expected if it were seeking to minimize its aerodynamic cost of transport, but find only weak evidence to suggest that it adjusts airspeed similarly in response to updrafts during straight and interthermal glides. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Moving in a moving medium: new perspectives on flight’.

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  • Many extant birds utilize headwinds for take-offs and energy-reduced flight.

    “Many extant birds utilize headwinds for both take-offs and energy-reduced flight [47, 48].”

    From The ecology of Archaeopteryx (2026) · cites this paper as [47]

    The theoretical analysis (§2a; page unavailable) says birds can gain energy when flying into a strengthening headwind, supporting the flight-energy point only under that condition. Its aerodynamic-cost analysis (§2b; page unavailable) says a steady headwind increases the cost of transport. The searched passages do not address headwinds during take-off or establish that many bird species use them for either purpose. (LLM, conf=0.83)

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Authors
Taylor, G. K., Reynolds, K. V., & Thomas, A. L. R.
Affiliations
University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author
Taylor, Graham K.
ORCID
Venue
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Publisher
The Royal Society
Published
2016-09-26
Volume
371
Issue
1704
Pages
20150398
ISSN
  • 0962-8436 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-2970
DOI
10.1098/rstb.2015.0398
PMC
PMC4992722
OpenAlex
W2476098454
Cited by
46
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2
FWCI
7.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • European Research Council (204513)
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (DTG BB/F017197/1)
  • Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd.
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Aerospace and Aviation Technology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Avian ecology and behavior
Keywords
dynamic soaring, thermal soaring, flight energetics, headwind, updrafts, steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis, flight optimization
MeSH terms
Air Movements, Animals, Atmosphere, Biomechanical Phenomena, Birds, Energy Metabolism, Flight, Animal, Male, Models, Biological, Wales, Eagles

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