Another little paper about stroke phases and stuff:
http://tolweb.org/notes/?note_id=2471
"Counter-stroking is the normal mode for Zygoptera except some Calopterygidae, and for Anisoptera when they are hovering or flying very slowly. This is a very powerful and efficient way of flying and generates a lot of lift.
Phased-stroking is used by Anisoptera when flying about. This method generates more thrust but less lift than counter-stroking.
Synchronised-stroking is used by Anisoptera when maximising thrust to change direction quickly. It is also used by calopterygid Zygoptera as a display flight, showing off the coloured wings.
Gliding is used by some Anisoptera and a few of the very largest Zygoptera (mostly in the family Pseudostigmatidae). Three kinds of gliding can be recognised: free gliding, where an animal just stops stroking with its wings and glides slowly down for a few seconds; updraft gliding at hill crests, where the animal adjusts its wing positioning to float in the air without the need to beat its wings; and gliding in towed females, where a female in the wheel position holds her wings out and glides while the male provides the motive force."
I am not sure where, but I recently read something contradictory; A model that got better lift from 90deg rear wing lead, than from counterstroking.Last edited on Sat Dec 20th, 2008 10:07 am by Sigurd
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