Flight, that is the Question

How could these gigantic beasts fly? Some say 'magic', while others say 'gases'! One of the reasons most people do not believe in dragons is because they can easily disprove flying.

• The Mammal's Flight
• Light Bones with Hydrogen
• Magical Flight

The only mammals that are capable of flying are bats. Bats, though the look related to rodents, are, as most scientists believe, related to primates. The origin of bats is still uncertain, and there are a good deal of bats all around the world. (There are nearly one thousand species of bats, which takes up about one quarter of all mammal species.)

Dragons, or shall I say, Western Dragons, would have to be mammals in order to fly without freezing to death. Most dragons are depicted as having 'bat' wings. (These include: wyvern, western dragon, some hydras, ect.) So, technically, if dragons do exist, they would probably be related to bats in some manner.

If dragons were to fly they would have to do so in the same speedy manner of bats. They would have to use short, quick flaps of their wings in order to stay in the air. They would also be able to glide for a short time if they were at a high spot.

Dragons, however, would have to eat and sleep a great deal in order to maintain the proper weight that they need. (Flight burns a tremendous amount of calories, which is why bird hunt so much.) What would dragons eat to sustain this weight? Most certainly larger creatures like hawks, eagles, and perhaps even larger sea life. (sharks, whales, ect.) The dragons would also do a great deal of hibernating, and, as we all know, dragons do a lot of that, anyways.

Wing structure is another question. The wings would have to connect at the hip (above the lower legs) in order to provide control and protection. They would also need large rudder-tails to help them fly correctly. In addition, membranes would be needed to attach to the tail so that the dragon could fly. Since most dragons are depicted as having 'bat' wings, they would not be able to fly for long periods of time, either.

Related Articles: Vertebrae Flight

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Some have suggested that dragon bodies are filled with hydrogen and that the have light bones. Wings, they claim, are simply for steering, and thus do not have to be a particular size or manner. Sadly, there are many reasons that disprove this suggestion.

Even if the dragon is small, being filled with a light gas and light bones will not help to support flight. Instead, the dragon would float away...until they released some of that gas and equalized themselves with the atmosphere.

Secondly, their bodily functions could not be supported without blood (as all mammals and reptiles have) and organs. Should the dragon be "filled with hydrogen", there would be little or no room left for organs and such. How would the dragon live?

Finally, larger dragons would simply have to be huge to fly. They would have to look ten times their size in order to fly. Also, if they were to be badly hurt in battle, most of the gases would leave their body. How would they fly, then?

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If dragons are magical, then they can fly-by-magic! Sadly, this does not help to prove much of dragon existence. If you think about it, what is 'magic'? Is it what dazzles the mind? What is forbidden? Illusions? How would any of those help a dragon fly? Surely, a dragon can not use something to elude your mind into thinking it is flying!

Another problem with this is that many people say, "If a dragon is magical..." Exactly my point, IF a dragon is magical! So, while it is easier to say "Fly by Magic" and leave it at that, it does not suffice when trying to prove the existence of dragons.

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© Kylie 'drago' McCormick.
Last updated: 5 August 2008