how do dragons fly? (Spoilers all books to end DH)

[Farseer]

It could be that dragons simply violate aerodynamic theory?

As an aside: using birds in modern times as models, it is considered that it is apparently impossible for a pterosaur to have stayed aloft and yet we accept that they flew, and must therefore ascribe various theories to support this view.

Of course, I do rather like the idea that I raised earlier in that dragons may possibly combine both aerodynamic and buoyant flight, through the use of their wings and via the less dense, warm air within their bodies (like a hot air balloon). Possibly this is why the dragons required heat to not only emerge from their cases but also to provide them with enough strength to then fly eg it was not until the stunted dragons reached the hot springs, and were able to properly warm themselves, that they were then finally able to fly.

With regard to the size of the RotE dragons, while they are described as being "as large as a ship" their wings are also likened to "sails" which are, by proportion, just as large. As far as my understanding goes (which isn't far !), a large dragon could fly just as easily with large wings as a small bird could fly with small wings, taking into account evolutionary changes and adaptations, as well as variations in wing loading and aspect ratio depending on flight capability? Size itself does not matter so long as the planform supports that size and particular wing use? A large wing area that is relative to the dragon's mass would maximise lift? Of course, as a larger animal, I would expect that a dragon would tend to glide or soar as much as possible so as to be more energetically efficient? Feel free to step in and tell me I have no idea as to what I'm talking about ! Either way, I fully agree with 'thul in that the dragons' ability to fly must mostly "be ascribed to their vast wings", just as wings are the key to bird flight.

As for the actual role of magic, aside from simply being "magic", it is difficult to say. Certainly, via the possession of the Skill magic, Fitz is able to envisage flight in the form of a dragon so possibly magic does have a direct role to play for the dragons also. The simulacra were certainly all able to fly when roused and "full" of memories, no matter what their size or shape, and this definitely had to do with magic.