Mythbusters: Birds flying in a V

[Lemur866]

@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

[Richard_Pearse]

@Lemur866

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14568204&postcount=13

That was years ago. The joke was ripe for retelling.

[KneadToKnow]

And Q told it better.

[JKellyMap]

@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.

[The_Niply_Elder]

@garygnu

I challenge every Doper to read this aloud in front of others.

Mime: Stroke of genius.

[Magiver]

@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?