How does Superman make himself fly? Does he drink jet fuel?

Answer 1

Excellent question!

On of the differences between the early DC Comics versus Marvel, was that readers felt that Marvel characters had a science behind them while the character's at DC had a kind of magic that explained their powers.

DC, understanding this, have begun to explain and rationalize these powers. Flash, for example, was given access to the speed force. Animal Man, likewise, has mystical access to something called the morphogenetic field.

A good explanation from a few years ago comes from the Science of Superman pages at:
http://www.firstscience.com/site/articles/superman.asp

It goes into great scientific detail about the power of the Yellow Sun and the super high gravity at Krypton.

One explanation that I have come across over the years is that superman has a nearly skintight field/aura around him (powered through his cells, that are in turn, powered by the sun).

This field is telekinetic in nature. It functions similarity to Sue Richard's force field from the Fantastic Four. By thinking, he manipulates this field and it allows him to fly and also float.

In fact, Superboy's official explanation (a clone of Superman) is that he's a touch telekinetic who uses this field for flying and strength.

This field also explains why superman's clothing, which is subject to blasts and other truama - often is not damaged. It's because the aura/field that surrounds him protects him just slightly over his skin.

Cheers!

Answer 2

On the Discovery, they had a whole hour based on the Science of Superman. They said he charges up from the sun, but also said something about magnetic fields and magnetism.

Answer 3

I don't think that it has ever been specified by DC. The accepted explanation is that the rays of our yellow sun give him abilties that earth people do not have, which includes flight. But of course, it is not flight as we know it, he does not flap his wings. He is just sort of defying gravity. In the movies, they sometimes add in a sound like the rushing of wind as he takes off, as if to give the impression that the wind picks him up.

The best theory that I have heard (since the Crisis on Infinite Earths) is that ever since the last war on Krypton centuries ago, all children were bioengineered to include a number of weapons systems similar to what were found in the ancient battlesuits (huge, hulking suits of powered armor that could operate even under Krypton's gravity.) Since Kal-El was born on Krypton, he had them, too.

This includes a sub-system to absorb solar power, and another to convert that stored energy into some form that produces reactionless thrust. (Reactionless, meaning that Superman does not have to spray out any exhaust or waste products behind him. Reactionless thrust is considered impossible to science as we know it. but, hey, that's why it's a comic book and why our military aren't using it.)

Superman doesn't need to eat or drink anything to fly. He has figured out the way to turn it on and off, and to accelerate and slow down, and to rise, fall, bank, turn and stop in mid air and hover.

As an example of this, there was one comic where he had returned to Krypton and his powers did not wear off immediately (because he was running on stored solar energy.) Superman was explaining to another Kryptonian how to turn his heat vision on and off. It was something along the lines of focusing his attention on the spot he wished to burn, then shifting his focus from as close as he could focus to his nose back to the point he wished to burn as rapidly as he could, and the reverse process to turn it off.

So, somehow along the line, even without being given training and instructions, he learned how to activate the systems of his built-in battlesuit, with the force-field (invunerability), the zero-range telekinesis (super strength) and the reactionless thrust (flight.)

Wish I could figure out how...!

29 NOV 06, 1440 hrs, GMT.

Answer 4

No He eats a lot of beans os the gas lets Him fly

Answer 5

Here, http://www.supermanhomepage.com/news.php

This site should answer any possible Superman-related question you could possibly think of.

Answer 6

Funny stuff SteveC

Answer 7

he eats magic Mushrooms and washes it down with Ahuawaska
that would make you fly as well
trust me

Answer 8

Absinth and Tacos.

Answer 9

the sun gives him powers

Answer 10

He drinks red bull.