Dragonfly flight: a Symposium from the 2017 International Congress of Odonatology held at Clare College, Cambridge

Abstract

At the 2017 International Congress of Odonatology the opportunity was taken to present a half day symposium on dragonfly flight. This symposium was organised to honour the fundamental contributions to investigations into insect flight made over more than three decades by Charles Ellington, at a Congress being held at his home institution. We were honoured that Charlie was able to attend our Symposium. Because of a gentleman’s agreement with Robin Wootton, dividing up the tasks to be done, Charlie did little direct work on dragonflies. However, his work, especially on unsteady state aerodynamics, has had enormous influence on directing researchers. While he did not publish on dragonflies he did think about them a lot and has always been ready to comment and counsel. In terms of insect flight the four independently controlled wings of dragonflies provides both incredible manoeuvrability and power for the animal, and a supreme test of our capacity for analysis and understanding. Dragonflies can achieve accelerations of greater than 10g, and up to 20g in some interpretations, linearly as well as in turns. They can brake to a stop within a few wing strokes; two wing strokes can effect a 180° turn, with the animal spinning about its centre of mass. They can hover, with body horizontal. They can fly backwards. They can tumble. They can side-slip, whether climbing, maintaining altitude or diving. And in all these activities they seemingly remain in total control. In the Symposium the following papers were presented (for multi-authored presentations the presenter’s names are underlined):