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25 answers

The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy has this to say on the subject of flying:


There is an art, it says, or rather, a knack to flying.
The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
Pick a nice day, it suggests, and try it.
The first part is easy.
All it requires is simply the ability to throw yourself forward with all your weight, and willingness not to mind that it's going to hurt.
That is, it's going to hurt if you fail to miss the ground.
Most people fail to miss the ground, and if they are really trying properly, the likelihood is that they will fail to miss it fairly hard.
Clearly, it is this second part, the missing, which presents the difficulties.
One problem is that you have to miss the ground accidentally. It's no good deliberately intending to miss the ground because you won't. You have to have your attention suddenly distracted by something else when you're halfway there, so that you are no longer thinking about falling, or about the ground, or about how much it's going to hurt if you fail to miss it.
It is notoriously difficult to prise your attention away from these three things during the split second you have at your disposal. Hence most people's failure, and their eventual disillusionment with this exhilarating and spectacular sport.
If, however, you are lucky enough to have your attention momentarily distracted at the crucial moment by, say, a gorgeous pair of legs (tentacles, pseudopodia, according to phyllum and/or personal inclination) or a bomb going off in your vicinity, or by suddenly spotting an extremely rare species of beetle crawling along a nearby twig, then in your astonishment you will miss the ground completely and remain bobbing just a few inches above it in what might seem to be a slightly foolish manner.
This is a moment for superb and delicate concentration.
Bob and float, float and bob.
Ignore all considerations of your own weight and simply let yourself waft higher.
Do not listen to what anybody says to you at this point because they are unlikely to say anything helpful.
They are most likely to say something along the lines of, 'Good God, you can't possibly be flying!'
It is vitally important not to believe them or they will suddenly be right.
Waft higher and higher.
Try a few swoops, gentle ones at first, then drift above the treetops breathing regularly.
DO NOT WAVE AT ANYBODY.
When you have done this a few times you will find the moment of distraction rapidly becomes easier and easier to achieve.
You will then learn all sorts of things about how to control your flight, your speed, your manoeuvrability, and the trick usually lies in not thinking too hard about whatever you want to do, but just allowing it to happen as if it was going to anyway.
You will also learn about how to land properly, which is something you will almost certainly cock up, and cock up badly, on your first attempt.
There are private flying clubs you can join which help you achieve the all-important moment of distraction. They hire people with surprising bodies or opinions to leap out from behind bushes and exhibit and/or explain them at the critical moments. Few genuine hitch-hikers will be able to afford to join these clubs, but some may be able to get temporary employment at them.

2006-06-24 22:57:44 · answer #1 · answered by Stephan B 5 · 0 0

If you really want to fly without any technological support then you can learn Yoga and study 'Patanjala Yoga Sutra' to explore the formula for flying with Yogic powers. There is a sutra in 3rd chapter and 42nd stanza which goes like this, "kaayakaashayoh Sambandhsamyamat laghutulasamaapatteh cha aakashagamanam". It means that when one attaains 'samyam' on the relation between body and space the Yogi can make his body lighter than cotton and fly in the sky with freedom. Samyam is a state where a Yogi achieves 'Dhyan', 'Dharanaa' and 'Samadhi' on his objective.

2006-06-25 04:44:06 · answer #2 · answered by unik logik 2 · 0 0

To "fly" implies also the ability to ascend, soar, propel at will - with what we have for limbs it is impossible sans technology. Jumping off a height is not flying but "falling" due to the gravitational pull. So be reasonable, accept our physical limitation.

2006-06-25 04:19:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

You climb up the highest mountain you can find and successfully climb,then walk to the edge and jump off, spread you arms and flap until you splat all over the ground(short of this, you can not fly without the use of technology)

2006-06-25 04:15:46 · answer #4 · answered by dazed&confused 6 · 0 0

4) Stand in the middle of an open doorway and use your arms to apply outward pressure on the two sides as if you were pushing them away from your body. After about 40 seconds, suddenly let go and relax, stand normally and just let your arms hang by your sides. If you are like most of us, your arms will involuntarily rise up as if pulled by two invisible helium ballons.

2006-06-25 04:22:16 · answer #5 · answered by Theta40 7 · 0 0

Because of both gravity and bone density there are 3 solutions:

- get into a high speed vertical wind chamber
- catch a REALLY good updraft when jumping off a high place (updraft could be a tornado or hurricane you know)
- go to space

2006-06-25 04:16:27 · answer #6 · answered by Billy E 1 · 0 0

jump off the Eiffel tower. Spread your arms. The air will help you fly for one second. Enjoy the second cause the landings a doozie

2006-06-25 04:17:00 · answer #7 · answered by Maimee 5 · 0 0

Just don't think about what you are doing, but know that it's possible - like walking. You do it, you don't think about it, but you know it's possible because you do it. It's like that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book when Arthur Dent learned how to fly.

"Let your mind go and your body will follow."
-L.A. Story

2006-06-25 04:19:12 · answer #8 · answered by ♥Melissa♥ 4 · 0 0

Flight is actually a controlled fall.

Jump off something .. you will achieve "flight". The higher the base you jump from, the longer you will fly.

2006-06-25 04:28:16 · answer #9 · answered by scavenger_meat 3 · 0 0

If you jump off a building and flap your arms and legs, and you really believe you can, you'll fly. I do it all the time when I need to go down to the shops.

2006-06-25 04:15:01 · answer #10 · answered by Ben C 2 · 0 0

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