skypointer2000
Approach to stall
During my visit to California I had the pleasure to observe the brown pelican in action.
As there obviously were many fish in the shallow waters near the shore, there was a frenzy of sea gulls and pelicans. The Pelicans were continuously approaching the shoreline, slowing down, while looking for their pray and then suddenly plunge-diving for their catch.
While trying to photograph him just prior to splashing in, I shot the image of this guy in slow flight.
For a pilot, who knows how difficult it is to fly while the airflow is starting to separate from the wings (this is called approach to stall), it was amazing to see who these big birds stay in total control of their flightpath, while their feathers clearly indicate very turbulent airflow at the upper side of their wings.
Maybe next time I should get born with my wings permanently attached from the beginning...
Approach to stall
During my visit to California I had the pleasure to observe the brown pelican in action.
As there obviously were many fish in the shallow waters near the shore, there was a frenzy of sea gulls and pelicans. The Pelicans were continuously approaching the shoreline, slowing down, while looking for their pray and then suddenly plunge-diving for their catch.
While trying to photograph him just prior to splashing in, I shot the image of this guy in slow flight.
For a pilot, who knows how difficult it is to fly while the airflow is starting to separate from the wings (this is called approach to stall), it was amazing to see who these big birds stay in total control of their flightpath, while their feathers clearly indicate very turbulent airflow at the upper side of their wings.
Maybe next time I should get born with my wings permanently attached from the beginning...