# Now everyone can fly! (Hypothetical: humanity gains the power of Superman-like flight.  Read OP)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-everyone-can-fly-hypothetical-humanity-gains-the-power-of-superman-like-flight-read-op/657773>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 8, 2013, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-everyone-can-fly-hypothetical-humanity-gains-the-power-of-superman-like-flight-read-op/657773 "2013-05-08T07:43:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-everyone-can-fly-hypothetical-humanity-gains-the-power-of-superman-like-flight-read-op/657773/41 "2013-05-10T04:09:32Z")

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Hmm. What would be the attitude of the body during flight? If you tried to fly horizontally and headfirst, Superman-style, you’d quickly get an aching neck from continuously tilting your head back. People may fly standing up. That might increase wind-resistance though.

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**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-everyone-can-fly-hypothetical-humanity-gains-the-power-of-superman-like-flight-read-op/657773/42 "2013-05-10T04:49:52Z")

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They might fly leaning back a bit with feet forward, like they are relaxing on something invisible. Less air resistance and easier on the neck.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-everyone-can-fly-hypothetical-humanity-gains-the-power-of-superman-like-flight-read-op/657773/43 "2013-05-10T05:48:48Z")

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We’ll have to rewrite property laws to reflect whether public airspace is open for flying or whether you own the air above your property.

Legally, it use to be that you owned your property straight up forever. But after aircraft were invented, this right was modified. The general rule now is you can fly above somebody’s property as long as you stay above 150 meters. But this is a rule designed for aircraft; flying people might cause new standards to emerge.

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**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\
**Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-everyone-can-fly-hypothetical-humanity-gains-the-power-of-superman-like-flight-read-op/657773/44 "2013-05-10T17:48:29Z")

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> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> OK. I stand by my previous statement - you can go to _space_, but that’s not the same thing as getting into orbit - you wouldn’t be able, by means of flight, to insert yourself into a proper orbit.

Agreed, you can’t hit free-fall orbital speed, and I’ve not said differently all through this thread. (A free-fall orbit at 50mph relative to Earth would be a _long_ way past the Moon…)

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