Ancient Reptile Had Wings Like a Fighter Jet

anthemaniac writes "A reptile that lived 225 million years ago had triangular-shaped wings like the delta-wings of some jets. At least that's what a new computer model suggests. Researcher have generated several possible shapes for the wings of Sharovipteryx mirabili before, so this is just the latest guess (based on one fossil). Last fall NatGeo reported that the first biplane configuration was on a dinosaur. Maybe airplane designers should delve into the fossil record a little more."

Comments

Science-Creationism parser

[grub]

A reptile that lived 225 million years ago had triangular-shaped wings

You mean "6,000 years ago an all-powerful sky-wizard designed a miraculous flying beast and a mate for travel on Noah's Ark."

CAD

[berenixium]

"What do the latest simulations look like?"
"The computer suggests that the bird had 'fighter plane'-like wings..."
"Let me see that hardcopy!"
"...WTF? A concorde-type nose? Who the **** has been messing with my simulation-apps again? ****ing undergrads!"

What NOT to do

[Odin_Tiger]

Maybe airplane designers should delve into the fossil record a little more.

The first and only known rear-limb delta-wing-glider type creature. Oh, and it's extinct. Maybe the rear-oriented delta-wing airplane design isn't such a great idea after all? >:P

Re:fossil

[Joebert]

why do we think it flew?

Because secretly, we all want to hear that a new specimen was discovered complete with two fossilized jet engines that had been grafted into the creatures body.

Re:Unlikely wing design.

[Rakshasa Taisab]

Ever considered the possibility that looking cool would be an evolutinary advantage?

Designing machines based off of dinosaurs?

[PrescriptionWarning]

Seems like a bad idea if you ask me, because last I checked they all died. Its probably also why nobody has made a machine based off the dodo. Stupid dodos.

Re:What gets me...

[Otter]

Forgot to note that my mental image upon reading "Sharovipteryx" was of a blonde, tennis-playing, flying dinosaur, a lot hotter than you'd expect such a creature to be.

Wings like a fighter jet...

[Lazbien]

I don't even want to speculate about the missiles.

Re:Unlikely wing design.

[HolyCrapSCOsux]

Of course it was not a good design. If it was, it wouldn't be extinct would it?

Re:Hello...

[donutello]

Yeah, but the lizard failed to file for a patent and thus lost its right to claim the original design.

Jet exhaust

[lastninja]

Considering that most dinosaurs were herbivores and ate a lot of beans and grass, not only did they have delta-wings of some jets, they probably had jet exhaust engines aswell :).

Re:Unlikely wing design.

[Lord_Dweomer]

"Of course it was not a good design. If it was, it wouldn't be extinct would it?"

Unfortunately for this lizard the design was great...however the increased wingspan dictated that the larger wing membrane be comprised of a lighter material that also happened to smell like BBQ sauce.

Re:They have this all wrong.

[Anonymous Coward]

I tried diving into a fossil record once, but those bastards at the museum threw me out.

Re:Unlikely wing design.

[kingsean]

Don't you think there's more to life than being really, really, ridiculously good looking?

Re:that's just as good of a guess

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

Everything's more attractive when you're 23...

especially when you're drunk.

... and your mating prospects are slashdottian.