# Mythbusters: Birds flying in a V **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 12, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-birds-flying-in-a-v/605966 "2011-12-12T23:32:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-birds-flying-in-a-v/605966/41 "2013-09-04T22:34:10Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Grandpa Mercotan: When birds fly in formation, do you know why one arm of the V is always longer than the other arm? > > Me: No, Grandpa. Why? > > Grandpa Mercotan: It’s got more birds in it. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14568204&postcount=13](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14568204&postcount=13) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-birds-flying-in-a-v/605966/42 "2013-09-04T22:51:06Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14568204&postcount=13](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14568204&postcount=13) That was _years_ ago. The joke was ripe for retelling. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2013, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-birds-flying-in-a-v/605966/43 "2013-09-04T23:00:42Z")
_And_ **Q** told it better. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-birds-flying-in-a-v/605966/44 "2013-09-06T03:40:58Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I challenge every Doper to read this aloud in front of others. I think Lukeniva should give it another shot. Google Translator has improved greatly since 2011. I’m serious – I use it (as a first pass) for certain professional purposes now, but didn’t do so as recently as two years ago. I’m pretty sure that the improvement is mainly due to the now much larger corpus it relies on. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Niply\_Elder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@The\_Niply\_Elder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Niply_Elder)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-birds-flying-in-a-v/605966/45 "2013-09-07T05:58:52Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I challenge every Doper to read this aloud in front of others. Mime: Stroke of genius. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-birds-flying-in-a-v/605966/46 "2013-09-07T06:43:41Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Thank you, but that answers the question without really answering it. In simple terms, how does reducing turbulence in a parcel of air that is behind/downstream of a vehicle impart an effect to the vehicle in front? How is that air still coupled to the vehicle? > > (I’m not disputing that it is, I’m just asking how) Ever seen an 18 wheeler with fairings on the end of the trailer to smooth out the air behind it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-birds-flying-in-a-v/605966.md?page=2)