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Q&A Human elytra flying off a cliff

This is probably impossible, but your question leaves off necessary detail to know for sure. If the point is to be able to glide for "a few minutes" after jumping off something tall, then we need ...

posted 3y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

Answer
#1: Initial revision by user avatar Olin Lathrop‭ · 2021-08-31T16:23:39Z (over 3 years ago)
This is probably impossible, but your question leaves off necessary detail to know for sure.  If the point is to be able to glide for "a few minutes" after jumping off something tall, then we need to know how tall.  The taller the cliff, the more potential energy there is to power the flight.

You also say you want to "plane close to the surface of the water" for a few minutes.  First, you didn't mention anything about water, so it's not clear how that fits in.  However, if you expect to glide close over something flat, then you're not getting any power input from potential energy.  You are gliding from momentum only, or perhaps a very slight decrease in altitude, which isn't going to last long.  Even with ground effect, the drag would have to be impossibly low.

Your concept doesn't pass the basic physics test.

You will also find that bone is a very poor material for making wings from, especially the large low-speed wings you require.