When I first read the subject, I thought this was a flotation device that doubled as a bazooka. You know...for all those times you've been floating in the water wishing you could blow someone else up....

I think one of the main problems with flapping wing take off is the initial oscillations. I think that the vehicle (made of very light materials) has to oscillate (crash) into the ground a few times before getting enough speed generated by the flapping wings...getting a tough enough machine to withstand those initial crashes is likely the reason some form of powered assist is required. For now. Big kudos to these researchers!

I'm outraged that slashdot.org monitoring is being left out of this! We must petition this company to include /. in the monitoring! That way we can feel safe in the knowledge that we must all bow down to our-Facebook-Myspace-LinkedIn-Twitter-/.-monitoring Overlords

I feel a little bad about myself right now...this person's name makes me giggle. (Also, is this a little too close to April 1st to be true?)

As you read this, did you expect to see the word "concordantly"? I sure did.

Metallica's yodelling compilation is a little known and highly sought-after box-set. It would have been great for this game. :(