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The airspeed velocity of an unladen European swallow is approximately 24 miles per hour (11 meters per second), according to detailed analysis of swallow flight patterns[^1]. However, swallows can reach speeds up to 46 mph (74 kph) during bursts of acceleration[^2].
The question gained fame from the 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," where it appears in two key scenes - first during a debate about coconut-carrying swallows, and later at the Bridge of Death[^3]. The guard in the first scene incorrectly claims a swallow must "beat its wings 43 times every second" to maintain airspeed, but actual research shows European swallows flap only 7-9 times per second while cruising[^4].
A comprehensive wind tunnel study conducted in Lund, Sweden found that European swallows: - Achieve maximum speeds of 13-14 meters per second - Cruise most efficiently at 8-11 meters per second - Use wing beats of 7-9 Hz (beats per second) - Have an amplitude of 17-19 cm per wing beat[^4]
The physics behind swallow flight involves the Strouhal number, which measures the ratio of wing frequency and amplitude to forward speed. European swallows demonstrate remarkable efficiency with a Strouhal number of 0.13 - well below the typical range of 0.2-0.4 for flying animals[^4].
As for the African versus European swallow distinction raised in the film, while 47 of the 74 worldwide swallow species are found in Africa, only two are specifically named for the continent: the West African Swallow (Hirundo domicella) and the South African Swallow (Hirundo spilodera)[^4]. However, insufficient data exists on the specific flight speeds of African swallow species for direct comparison.
What Is the Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow? is a quote from the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The question is often referred to online as a way of calling a topic or question overly trivial or technical.
@pragmaticpedant, it's the first one which appears as an AI enhanced search engine, long before all others, way different from others and one of the most reliable, it don't invent nothing. apart one of the most privat search engines I know (see privacy), anonimous, random proxie, own reader mode, you can watch YT videos sandboxed in the search results, no ads, no cookies, no tracking or logging.
@pragmaticpedant Hmm, while I absolutely LOVED HItchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (both the book and BBC production, much less so the Prisney crapola destruction), when I think of unlaiden Swallos speed, I have to ask, do you mean an African or a European swallow? (Monty Python bridge of death scene).
Catweazle
in reply to pragmaticpedant • • •The airspeed velocity of an unladen European swallow is approximately 24 miles per hour (11 meters per second), according to detailed analysis of swallow flight patterns[^1]. However, swallows can reach speeds up to 46 mph (74 kph) during bursts of acceleration[^2].
The question gained fame from the 1975 film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," where it appears in two key scenes - first during a debate about coconut-carrying swallows, and later at the Bridge of Death[^3]. The guard in the first scene incorrectly claims a swallow must "beat its wings 43 times every second" to maintain airspeed, but actual research shows European swallows flap only 7-9 times per second while cruising[^4].
A comprehensive wind tunnel study conducted in Lund, Sweden found that European swallows:
- Achieve maximum speeds of 13-14 meters per second
- Cruise most efficiently at 8-11 meters per second
- Use wing beats of 7-9 Hz (beats per second)
- Have an amplitude of 17-19 cm per wing beat[^4]
Catweazle
in reply to pragmaticpedant • • •Andisearch answer (2)
The physics behind swallow flight involves the Strouhal number, which measures the ratio of wing frequency and amplitude to forward speed. European swallows demonstrate remarkable efficiency with a Strouhal number of 0.13 - well below the typical range of 0.2-0.4 for flying animals[^4].
As for the African versus European swallow distinction raised in the film, while 47 of the 74 worldwide swallow species are found in Africa, only two are specifically named for the continent: the West African Swallow (Hirundo domicella) and the South African Swallow (Hirundo spilodera)[^4]. However, insufficient data exists on the specific flight speeds of African swallow species for direct comparison.
[^1]: [style.org - Estimating the Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow](style.org/unladenswallow/)
[^2]: [The Environmental Literacy Council - How fast does swallow fly?](enviroliteracy.org/how-fast-do…)
[^3]: [Know Your Meme - What Is the Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow?](knowyourmeme.com/memes/what-is…)
[^4]: [Interesting Engineering - Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow](interestingengineering.com/sci…)
This is the reason why I use Andi since more than 2 years as my main search engine
What Is the Airspeed Velocity of an Unladen Swallow?
Ari Spool (Know Your Meme)pragmaticpedant
in reply to Catweazle • • •Catweazle
in reply to pragmaticpedant • • •Nanook
in reply to pragmaticpedant • •