how large would our wings need to be to achieve flight? According to Ty Hedrick, a biology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a person weighing approximately 155 pounds (70 kilograms) and standing at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall would require a wingspan of about 20 feet (6 meters) to become airborne. This estimation is based on an equation developed by Robert Nudds, a senior lecturer in biological sciences at the University of Manchester, which examines the scaling of bird wing parameters relative to body mass.
However, achieving human flight would necessitate more than just attaching sizable wings; it would require a comprehensive reimagining of human anatomy. Michael Habib, a research associate at the Dinosaur Institute at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, suggests that bat-like wings might be more feasible for humans.
In this configuration, the entire arm and hand would extend to form the wing structure, covered by a fleshy membrane, resulting in the necessary 20-foot wingspan. Additionally, substantial flight muscles would be essential, with birds typically having 16% to 18% of their muscle mass dedicated to flight, and some species possessing up to 30% in their chest muscles. For humans, this would imply a significantly more muscular chest and back to provide the required power for flight.
Beyond anatomical modifications, other factors such as bone structure and metabolic rate would play crucial roles. Birds have hollow bones to reduce weight, a feature humans lack, making flight more challenging. Moreover, the energy demands of flight are immense, necessitating a high metabolic rate to sustain the activity.
Therefore, while the concept of human flight is fascinating, it would require significant evolutionary changes to our physiology and anatomy to become a reality.
