Is it possible to fly?

Question

Not falling or aided by some sort of contraption, but literal free flying.

Now the question might seem absurd, but I argue that surely nothing is impossible.

What I want to know is whether science can totally disprove the notion of flying, whether it is dismissed purely through logic or if some scientists do indeed note that that it could happen.
I mean throughout history ideas have been dubbed ridiculous, but we know are now or can be possible.
Time travel for example seems a ludicrously profound and an unfathomable concept; but we now know it could happen.
People use to think the world was flat, and if you proposed Darwin's theory on evolution 1500 years ago you would receive one almighty slap.
And by that logic, doesn't that mean there is no such thing as an axiom, and that we can't discount anything.
Or are we at such a developed stage in humanity that if it was possible, even a tiny bit, we would know by now?

And flying is thought by most as being impossible, and perhaps for now it is, but maybe there is a way, or maybe our minds can't calculate such depths and wrap our heads around the dynamics of the possibility. Maybe...

Or am I just a whimsical crack pot?

Answer 1

First of all, time travel has limited definition and been done with only photons if memory serves. Photons have no rest mass, so that's a long, LONG way away from you time-traveling anywhere.



Flying, I can't recall what it's called, but there's a somewhat new group doing something similar to B.A.S.E. jumping. They leap off mountain tops and high bridges too I think, and they can actually soar for quite a long time and travel amazing distances. It looks awesome. You can probably find it on youtube if you look up 'human flying' or something like that.



As for actual flying.....no. A human is too heavy and could never, ever flap their arms fast enough to displace enough air to keep themselves afloat, let alone actually fly. Mankind cannot fly without assist.



Sorry to burst your bubble.

Answer 2

Certain accepted views of the past have been shown to have been incorrect but this surely doesn't mean we should throw out all accepted views and all scientific opinion. In order to fly an object Must attain a certain velocity and then adopt an attitude or a shape such that air passing over and under the object generates an uplift greater than the object's mass. Science can show that unaided the human body can neither attain the required velocity nor generate the required uplift. So until we evolve a much lighter skeleton, lose much of our body fat and virtually all of the inappropriate muscle we can say that unaided human flight is impossible.

Answer 3

To 'fly' whilst on earth you have to apply a force greater than g for however long you wish to fly



arguable jumping is flying. If you're asking whether humans can fly just by willing it so then I'm sorry to disappoint you but we can't.



birds fly by taking advantage of their small mass and wind currents. Humans are too heavy and lack wings



However if you wish to fly then you need only overcome the gravitational force for long enough to leave the atmosphere and then some. Once in deep space you may enjoy the wonders of weightlessness and also the wonders of have your blood vessels burst inside of you

Answer 4

Fly without an aircraft: No.

We don't have wings. ====> Wings are a "contraption." Our bodies do not form airfoils needed for flight.

Our muscles are on our arms and legs, unlike birds and insects that have the muscles on the body. =====> to fly our muscles would have to lift and move their own mass and handle the associated momentum.





Time Travel: Violates Causality. Consider: If you could go back one day,killed yourself and burned your body, how could you be alive the next day?

Answer 5

sure we can fly just not here on earth gravity is to strong. well i supose i could take you and smash you up and re structure you would that count or am i a whimsical crack pot 2

Answer 6

Science will tell you that a bee is too heavy to fly, and is aerodynamically mis-designed to fly.



I fly most nights. I just flap my arms, and to the amazement of others, I take off. Then I have to avoid the power lines. When I have survived all that, I wake up.

Answer 7

Yes, you are just a whimsical crack pot ;)

not really, you never know you could be right

Seems unlikely you could just do it yourself though with like gravity, you would need somethin to get around that problem

Interesting question though (Y)

Answer 8

Flying without aid from anything but our own physical abilities is impossible - as simple as that. The idea of time travel is possible because physicists could not fine anyth laws in physics that will preven the ability to warp and manipulate time.



However, flying has one simple law of physic that will prevent its realization: what goes up, must come down.

Answer 9

you're mostly a whimsical crack pot, this is the closest to flying without a large/complicated contraption



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttz5oPpF1Js

Answer 10

According to the late Douglas Adams, the technique is to throw yourself at the ground, and miss. Simples. Eeek.

Answer 11

it can't be possible mainly due to the gravity and the pressure. way back then probably in the past many were eager to see if we can fly or not.

Answer 12

Yes it is possible, and people have already found the solution for the same which suits to their pocket ? yes drink as much as u can to fulfill all fantasies.

Answer 13

Scientifically Bee's shouldn't be able to fly. All i know is if you find a way to fly then let me know. (Y)