The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1915-08-14
|WAY WE CAN'T FLY
The Reason Man Is Unable to Rise
In the Air Like a Bird.
he LACKS THE saEAsTsoNE.


In the bird II 10 Very MsssIvs and
psvsispsd Like the Keel Of vsehs,
and Therein Lies the Secret of tie
Enormous Wing Power
Man has always ionged to ny like a
bird. ana all the ancient attempts at
iixht were based upon the tapping of
wings attached 10 human arms.
These efforts were given up long ago
when Il was realized that man was
not and could not ba strong enough 20
sustain himself IN the air by the use OF
his arms. man can only just lift
himself with his chlnning tho
bar. for example he fnds himself
pretty heavy after he hns done IL
few times.
The reason why no man viii ever bo
able 10 hy with self moved wings II
that his breastbone Ia not big enough.
A BIRDS breastbone has along its mid
die a deep keel. from which spring the
enormous muscles that draw down tho
wings when Mapping or hold them level
when soaring, the muscles, IN other
words. that support the entire weight
Of the bird.
The most powerful fiiers have the
deepest bEeastbones Look ut the skel.
eton Of an alhntross. a condor or n
cumming bird in n museum and you
will notice that the keel OF Its breast
bone projects like the keel Of racing
yacht
You can see this keel. only. much
smaller IN proportion 10 tho alxe OF the
bird, on the carcass OF any chicken or
turkey after the meat has been re-
moved. aud the tender white fiesh from
the breast is nothing but the muscles
with which tho bird few when alive
You notice that oven on a chicken.
which II one Of the weakest OF fiicrs
this nssh forms tho greater part OF the
body. On humming bird there II VIZ
lie slse but this mass OF Aging muscle
In other words. tho humming bird IN
nothing but tiny nying machine.
An albatross has a vast spread OF
wings. and it, small body is little else
but . pair Of powerful pectornl mus
cies. These are attached by tendons
10 che bone called tho humerus. which
10 ths counterpart OF the upper arm
bone Of q man. They spread out like
solid fan and are fastened TO tho
5resstbons with its deep keel, to tho
clsvicles, or "wishbone." and TO the
ribs.
A mans breastbone has no keel Ills
humerus. or upper arm bone. IL hinged
20 the ciavicle. or coilarbone. and
shoulder blade. Ills pectoral muscles.
which move the arm forward. and del.
told muselss. which lift Il. are attach.
ed TO Il BY strong tendons aud spssaa
fanlike over his upper chest. being IN
serted In the ribs and collarbone.
These are the muscles TINT do the
same work for man ns the pectorai
muscies DO for bird. These are the
muscles on which hs would have 20
rely II be were 20 fasten wings 60 bis
srms and try to iy.
Compare these muscles with those OF
an slbstross and you win zee how In.
adequate they ara Though an alba.
tross weighs only few pounds. Il has
pectorai muscles that are actually laT.
eer than those Of tho most powerful
sthlsts.
In order 10 have muscles powerful
enough 10 Iift his weight IN the air by |
happinG wings mans brcastbone
would have 20 devel0p keel Ike a
birds and his collar bono would have
to bs changed TO giant "wishbone."
soms writer on aviation has calcu
lated that this keel and "wishbone'
would heye TO project at least six feet
In order TO furnish attachment for the
necessary muscles, Tor man IN proper.
ton TO his size IL far heavier than an
aIbstross. This bird has small and
rery light logs, whereas mans legs are
sclid and heavy. pho nlbatross' long
wing bones are hollow tubes.
This makes II plain why experiment.
sns IN nying l0pg ago gave up the Idea
VI self moved wings and ilight like
hat Of . bird.-san Francisco chroni
sIs.