FLIGHT OVERVIEW

Our work on flight has focussed on three different areas

a) the measurement of flight energy demands (metabolic input) using wind tunnel respirometry simultaneous to high speed filming to measure mechanical power output and thereby evaluate efficiency of flight. Tied into this work is the measurement of heat production during flight measured by infra-red thermography to quantify efficiency directly.

b) developing a method based on elimination of bolus quantities of labelled 13C bicarbonate to estimate flight energy costs over relatively short periods.

c) Consideration of the function of formation flights - energy saving or orientation?

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