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DOD tries to uncover secret of flying snakes
Washington Post ^
| 11/22/10
| Marc Kaufman
Posted on 11/24/2010 10:49:17 PM PST by FTJM
An unusual breed of Asian snakes can glide long distances in the air, and the Department of Defense is funding research at Virginia Tech to find out why.
Most animals that glide do so with fixed wings or a wing-like part. But not the "flying snakes" of Southeast Asia, India and southern China - at least five members of the genus Chrysopelea.
As video of the reptiles show, they undulate from side to side, in almost an air-slithering, to create an aerodynamic system. It allows them to travel from the top of the biggest trees in the region (almost 200 feet high) to a spot about 780 feet away from the tree's trunk.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dod; snakes
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1
posted on
11/24/2010 10:49:21 PM PST
by
FTJM
To: FTJM
Am I the only person whose first thought after reading the headline was “Snakes On A Plane”? Of course snakes can fly, they just don’t like it very much! Didn’t anybody at the DOD see the movie????
2
posted on
11/24/2010 10:52:16 PM PST
by
GizmosAndGadgets
(That given freely is charity; Taken by force, theft; Stolen by the government, tyranny.)
To: FTJM
...your tax dollars at work....
3
posted on
11/24/2010 10:57:20 PM PST
by
Tzimisce
(No thanks. We have enough government already. - The Tick)
To: AngieGal
To: FTJM
Bet the first snake to try this told the other snakes in the tree “Hold my beer and watch this”.
5
posted on
11/24/2010 10:58:52 PM PST
by
The Cajun
To: FTJM
...your tax dollars at work....
6
posted on
11/24/2010 10:59:54 PM PST
by
Tzimisce
(No thanks. We have enough government already. - The Tick)
To: FTJM
Flying snakes? Do they get hand raped by TSA too?
7
posted on
11/24/2010 11:00:45 PM PST
by
WKUHilltopper
(Fix bayonets!)
To: FTJM
I will do my best to avoid anywhere that may be home to Chrysopelea. Trips to India, Asia and Virginia Tech are out.
8
posted on
11/24/2010 11:04:00 PM PST
by
skr
(May God confound the enemy)
To: Tzimisce
we’re gettin’ closer to flyin’ pigs everyday. muslims aren’t going to like that idea @ all.
To: FTJM
To: FTJM
Why is this news? TSA is already checking everyone’s trouser snakes.
11
posted on
11/24/2010 11:08:08 PM PST
by
rfp1234
To: FTJM
Flying snakes and egg.
12
posted on
11/24/2010 11:32:07 PM PST
by
kbennkc
(For those who have fought for it freedom has a flavor the protected will never know .F Trp 8th Cav)
To: kbennkc
13
posted on
11/24/2010 11:38:10 PM PST
by
FTJM
To: FTJM
Flying snakes?!? We’re screwed.
14
posted on
11/24/2010 11:51:54 PM PST
by
Lil Flower
(Confucius says: Wise man never play leap frog with unicorn.)
To: FTJM
Serpents, not snakes! Obama’s flying around the world on Air Farce One! Serpents on planes! Mysteries solved.
15
posted on
11/24/2010 11:56:55 PM PST
by
STD
(He walks like a duck, talks like a duck, he' mama married two of the duckers, U a duck Boy!)
To: Tzimisce
16
posted on
11/25/2010 12:12:04 AM PST
by
coon2000
(Give me Liberty or give me death!)
To: coon2000
I love paying taxes.
I'm happy to hear that because those taxes are going to go UP, UP, UP.
You better hang on to your wallet - your soaking is coming in 2011. :)
17
posted on
11/25/2010 12:23:18 AM PST
by
Tzimisce
(No thanks. We have enough government already. - The Tick)
To: FTJM
I thought the TSA was already checking for flying snakes?
18
posted on
11/25/2010 12:30:15 AM PST
by
BigCinBigD
(Northern flags in South winds flutter...)
To: FTJM
Let’s see one of those snakes do it in reverse now. From the ground to the treetop.
19
posted on
11/25/2010 1:28:53 AM PST
by
HiTech RedNeck
(I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
To: Tzimisce
A nearly 4:1 glide angle without wings could have some real military benefits.
20
posted on
11/25/2010 4:23:25 AM PST
by
R. Scott
(Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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