Types of Flying

Superman, Hawkman, and Green Lantern

Flight is an interesting power.  It can be done in multiple ways, which I wanted to list as best I could.  The challenge is that I kept thinking of other methods of flight as I came up with the idea.  So, I’m just going to diver right into the list and people can add ones I missed in the comments.

  1. Winged Flight–  This is when a character flies by the use of wings.  It can be natural wings like angels or Man-Bat (Batman villain).  It can also be artificial ones like Icarus and The Vulture (Spider-Man villain).  The concept is very simple in that the character can fly because they have these wings.  There’s not question as to how they work because we think of birds.
  2. Non-Winged Device Flight– This one I’m not going into much detail with because it just came to me.  I’m looking primarily at Green Lanterns who can fly through the power of their rings.  It isn’t a set of wings or flying simply because they can.  There is a clear source that they can lose.
  3. Wingless Flight (Unexplained)– Superman.  Up, up, and away going against all forms of physics.  These characters simply fly with no real explanation.  Sometimes they will get one that makes sense in their world, but isn’t really necessary.  You get this a lot in comic books because flight has been around for so long.
  4. Gliding– A minor version of flight that depends on air currents.  These characters can use a device or a power, but they can’t fully control their flight like those with the full ability.
  5. Wingless Flight (Wind Control)- Gliding can turn into this if the character can control air currents.  Think Storm of the X-Men.  She can fly because she rides the air currents, which she commands.  The riding is kind of like gliding, but her control is what turns it into actual flight.  At least from what I remember.
  6. Telekinesis– I wanted to put this one on here because I’ve seen it in comics a few times and always found it interesting.  These characters can move things with their minds, which ends up including their own bodies.  This has to take a lot of control and one would expect it to be slower than other forms of flight.  It does get enhanced when characters have quick mental reflexes, but it gets tricky.
  7. Booster Tech– Only way I could explain methods of flight depending on propulsion technology.  This isn’t using wings, but some form of jet propulsion.  Think Iron Man or the Rocketeer.  Of course, this usually comes with a suit or some type of enhancements to protect the user.  I like when this version has a level of danger since it can be damaged in-flight and result in falling.
  8. Magic– Spells!  Don’t think I really have to explain more of this one.
  9. Winged Mount–  Adding this only because it technically counts.  The rider can fall off though.
  10. The Batwing– Only because I know someone would mention flying a personal jet if I don’t.
  11. Gravity Manipulation–  Almost forgot this one.  It’s similar to telekinesis, but the power focus is on the area around the person instead of the body.  This ability can be used to explain wingless flight as well.

Those are all the ones I could think of while writing the post.  Any that you can add?

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About Charles Yallowitz

Charles E. Yallowitz was born, raised, and educated in New York. Then he spent a few years in Florida, realized his fear of alligators, and moved back to the Empire State. When he isn't working hard on his epic fantasy stories, Charles can be found cooking or going on whatever adventure his son has planned for the day. 'Legends of Windemere' is his first series, but it certainly won't be his last.
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4 Responses to Types of Flying

  1. I think you got them all and some I didn’t think about before.

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  2. L. Marie's avatar L. Marie says:

    I can’t think of any other types of flight. In The Wee Free Men, one of the Nac Mac Feegle used to be snatched up by a bird—his form of air travel. Wonder Woman flew and had an invisible jet. Never understood why she had the invisible jet if she could fly. I wonder if she had the invisible jet first and some writer later decided that she should be able to fly.

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