Kraven Kor Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 One of my players is a falconer and has a falcon (actually, a "monkbird" in my setting), and uses it to send messages and such. So I'm trying to make a good guess at how long it should take for the bird to fly to and from various places. This site has some rather scientific information on the subject, but I'm not finding much on travel times for migratory birds or anything. The Monkbirds are actually flying lizards, feathered birds being a rarity on my world. They are about the size of a falcon or eagle, and should have similar speeds, etc. Any assistance would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Found an abstract that suggests an osprey should be able to cover 3780 km in 12 days, assuming they don't forage along the way. They say that no-eating along the way is possible but unlikely. Depending on how much foraging they do along the way (i.e., how big a hurry they are in) the travel time for that distance is 17 to 34 days. EDIT: that's natural migration travel. With human training and direction, you probably could double that speed, perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escafarc Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Racing pigeons can average 30 mph(with burst up to 60mph) and can cover distances of 1000 kms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? The pigeons -- they must be stopped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Well, they are just rats with wings, after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escafarc Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? The pigeons -- they must be stopped. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dexQhvczVeM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Well' date=' they [i']are[/i] just rats with wings, after all. ... Those mad, beady little eyes ... The silly, fake-ish walk ... I don't trust them, no sirree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kraven Kor Posted May 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Basing them off a Pigeon, I figure the following for a bird that can, on average, fly about 30 mph: It would need about 14m of flight at speed 3 with x4 Noncombat movement (14m x 4 NCM x 3 SPD x 5 Turns per Minute x 60 minutes per hour = about 50 km/hr; 50 / 1.609 = about 31 MPH.) Edit: Thanks all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manic Typist Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? ......racing pigeons??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malhanon Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? HAHA, thank you. The racing pigeon got me too. RACING PIGEONS!? Do they allow NOX kits or are those not allowed? And whatever math works for you, but SPD 3 seems high to me for a birdy, even an evil NOX enhanced pigeon lizard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kraven Kor Posted May 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Try to catch an average ground lizard and tell me they aren't at least Speed 3 (I'd say more like 6... Grew up trying to catch those little buggers, fast as sin.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cancer Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Lizards always reserve their actions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Hawk Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Falcons hit speeds over 200mph in dives. But they're sprinters, not long distance flyers. (30mph sounds like a good number. Faster than a horse, but not outrunning telegraphs.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kraven Kor Posted May 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? And it is an average speed. I'd say the monkbirds of my setting can reach about 120 in dives, maybe 60-75 in short bursts, but have to stop and rest more often than a bird unless just gliding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Weapon Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Basing them off a Pigeon, I figure the following for a bird that can, on average, fly about 30 mph: It would need about 14m of flight at speed 3 with x4 Noncombat movement (14m x 4 NCM x 3 SPD x 5 Turns per Minute x 60 minutes per hour = about 50 km/hr; 50 / 1.609 = about 31 MPH.) Edit: Thanks all! Even without a noncombat modifier pidgeons are almost as fast as falcons. The falcons have to really struggle to catch up to them. Experienced pidgeons (experienced at dodging raptors) would probably have a SPD 3 or even 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost-angel Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Try to catch an average ground lizard and tell me they aren't at least Speed 3 (I'd say more like 6... Grew up trying to catch those little buggers' date=' fast as sin.)[/quote'] Owning lizards - it depends: Blue Tongued Skinks have a SPD1. Chinese Water Dragons have a SPD8, come with Teleport & Climbing, and crank in around DEX 75. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debra Winger Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Bark bark bark bark? Bark bark bark baaark Bark? translated from dog: What do you mean? An African or European swallow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escafarc Posted May 25, 2011 Report Share Posted May 25, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Owning lizards - it depends: Blue Tongued Skinks have a SPD1. Chinese Water Dragons have a SPD8, come with Teleport & Climbing, and crank in around DEX 75. Plus Martial Escape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escafarc Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? ......racing pigeons??? That would be pigeons bred and trained to race. Lucius Alexander Racing palindromedary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narf the Mouse Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Now that's rather neat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Goshawks are easily impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narf the Mouse Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? Goshawks are easily impressed. That's ok; I'm not a goshawk and I'm impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? You are so a goshawk. I'm impressed too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narf the Mouse Posted July 15, 2011 Report Share Posted July 15, 2011 Re: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow in flight? You are so a goshawk. I'm impressed too. *Squeeks, eats cheese* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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