How big would wings have to be in order to carry the weight of an adult male human?
The weight of an average adult male human is around 70 kg (154 lbs). In order for wings to carry this weight, they would need to have a surface area of at least 1.5 square meters (16.15 square feet) based on the average lift generated by wings in birds of prey. However, it is important to note that humans are much heavier than birds of prey, so larger wings would likely be needed to generate enough lift to support the weight of a human.
For more info, lets say its an average built man. Healthy diet and healthy weight. height is 5'9. Lean muscular build. Normal density bones.
In that case, we can estimate the weight of the average built man to be around 70-80 kg (154-176 lbs). Assuming a weight of 80 kg, the wingspan required to carry this weight would need to be significantly larger than 1.5 square meters.
For a rough estimation, we can look at the wingspan and size of a bird like the albatross, which has a wingspan of about 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) and a weight of around 8-12 kg. Given that an albatross is much lighter than a human, we can extrapolate that a human would likely need wings with a wingspan of 6-7 meters (20-23 feet) or even larger to support their weight.
It's important to note that this is a very rough estimate and actual wings would likely need to be even larger due to the differences in anatomy and weight distribution between humans and birds. Additionally, the mechanics of human flight are complex and would involve more than just wingspan, such as muscle strength and aerodynamics.
Lets say they're webbed wings, not feathered wings.
If we consider webbed wings instead of feathered wings, the aerodynamic properties and lift generation would be different. Webbed wings are typically found in aquatic animals like bats and pterosaurs, and are designed for underwater propulsion rather than for sustained flight in the air.
In this case, it would be even more challenging to estimate the required wingspan for carrying the weight of an adult male human. Webbed wings are not as efficient at generating lift in the air compared to feathered wings, and the design of human anatomy would likely not be suitable for webbed wings in terms of muscle strength and control.
Without precise calculations or specific data on the aerodynamic properties of human-sized webbed wings, it is difficult to determine an accurate wingspan. However, it is safe to say that the wingspan required for human flight with webbed wings would likely be much larger than previously estimated with feathered wings.
We shall go with bird/feathered wings then.
With bird/feathered wings, we can revert back to our previous estimates. For an average built man with a weight of around 80 kg (176 lbs), a wingspan of approximately 6-7 meters (20-23 feet) or even larger would likely be needed to support their weight and achieve flight.
It's important to remember that this is a rough estimate and actual wings for human flight would involve many other factors such as muscle strength, aerodynamics, and structural design. Additionally, human anatomy is not optimized for flight, so achieving sustained flight with wings large enough to support our weight would be extremely challenging.
And how much muscle mass would be required? Would the torso need to increase in size to have these wings?
To generate the necessary power for flight with wings of that size, a significant increase in muscle mass in the chest, shoulders, and back would likely be required. The muscles responsible for flapping the wings and maintaining stability during flight would need to be well-developed and strong enough to support the weight of the human and propel them through the air.
The torso would likely need to increase in size to accommodate the additional muscle mass needed for flying with wings of such a large size. This increase in muscle mass would also impact the overall weight of the individual, potentially requiring even larger wings for flight.
In addition, changes in bone structure and overall body shape may be needed to support the increased muscle mass and altered weight distribution. Overall, achieving flight with wings of that size would require significant adaptations in muscle structure, body size, and overall physiology.