If humans had wings, what would their wingspan be?

We have to look to history (and hang gliders) to answer this one.


Asked by: Selina Phillips, Bristol

The extinct bird Argentavis magnificens weighed about as much as an adult human and it had a wingspan of 7m – four times the average human arm span. This bird had lots of other adaptations to allow it to fly though, including the muscles to support these wings and flap them. Hang gliders, which allow humans to ‘fly’, are 9-10m across

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