| Summary: | The kinematics and aerodynamics of Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, R. hipposideros, Myotis nattereri, M. mystacinus, Plecotus auritus and Eptesicus serotinus in horizontal flight at various flight speeds are described. Three kinematic patterns can be recognized. At low speeds M. nattereri, M. mystacinus and P. auritus use a tip-reversal upstroke in which thrust is generated during the backward flick of the chiropatagium. R. hipposideros also uses this kinematic pattern, but does not appear to generate thrust during the upstroke. Both R. ferrumequinum flying at 3.12 m s-1 and E. serotinus flying at 3.44 m s-1 accelerate during the vertical upstroke (in which the wings move perpendicularly to the flight path), indicating that their wings are active. When flying at 4.16 m s-1, E. serotinus also uses a vertical upstroke, but in this case it decelerates, which suggests that thrust is not being generated. At minimum power speed (4.8 m s-1), R. ferrumequinum uses a reduced-span upstroke, thrust is not generated during the upstroke and the animal decelerates.
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