Owls are amazing silent fliers and are giving the aerospace industry a master course in aeroacoustic
Owls are amazing silent fliers and are giving the aerospace industry a master course in aeroacoustics. Owls rely on stealth to catch their prey, and evolution has specially equipped them to fly more quietly than hawks of falcons. Three special features help to make owls so quiet. First, a comb-like fringe on the leading edge of their feathers breaks up the still air as it reaches their wing. Next, a downy covering helps to reduce noise and break up air flow. Finally, the trailing edge of the flight feathers has a rough fringe, which reduces turbulence off the back of the wing. Since turbulence is the main cause of aeroacoustic noise, the result is near silent flight! This adaptation is unique to owls, as this PBS Deep Look video shows. Of course, engineers are always happy to learn from nature, and soon these tricks could find their way into fans, wind turbines, and airplanes. (Photo credits Ian-S and Kersti) -- source link
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