# How many ways are there for superheroes to fly?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-are-there-for-superheroes-to-fly/329573>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 4, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-are-there-for-superheroes-to-fly/329573 "2005-11-04T23:28:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-are-there-for-superheroes-to-fly/329573/61 "2005-11-08T20:29:55Z")

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> [@gonzoron](#):
>
> What about the shapeshifters, like **Beast Boy** or **Plastic Man** that can shape themselves into a bird and fly?
> 
> And does **Cannonball** count?

I think transforming into a flying creature counts as a unique form of winged flight.

**Cannonball** also counts as a unique method, essentially being a human rocket.

Does anyone know what’s going on with **Jack of Hearts** these days? I was going to say he flies by means of being a human rocket, but I read he’s since had his powers amped up significantly. Does he still fly the human rocket way, or does he have get around in the general cosmic powered way?

Does **Plastic Man** ever transform himself into something that can fly?

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**Author:** ![Anaptyxis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anaptyxis/32/3171_2.png) [@Anaptyxis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaptyxis)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-are-there-for-superheroes-to-fly/329573/62 "2005-11-08T21:59:52Z")

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> [@soulmurk](#):
>
> Didn’t Wolverine fly into battle a few times via Colossus?

Didn’t see this answered anywhere yet. That’s the ever popular “fastball special”. Not really flying, I suppose, since it’s not self-propelled.

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**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-ways-are-there-for-superheroes-to-fly/329573/63 "2005-11-08T22:40:37Z")

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Harry Angel, from the long {and justly} forgotten 2000AD strip **Angel** survived a fighter plane crash only to have the melted flight computer fused into his nervous system: while he couldn’t take off, he could leap from high altitudes {_ie_ burning planes} and glide gracefully to the ground by dint of the flight computer thinking his arms were wings and his legs were a rudder, and adjusting them accordingly.

As for Thor, I was always under the impression that he generated lift by whirling his hammer like a rotor, rather than simply throwing it.

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