Flying

[dmanmiller34]

We all know that Aes sedai claim that flying is a lost Talent and that ut is for some odd reason impossible to lift yourself. Well in Fires of Heaven Elayne uses air to walk across the tight rope. How is this different? Do you think that she inadvertanly discovered the secret to flying without realizing it? She is technically suspending herself in the air with air. Your thoughts.

[Cadsuane]

I think she creates a platform of air right where the rope is, so that there is something more solid for her to step on. I figure it's much the same as creating a wall or bonds out of air. She isn't actually holding herself up so much as she is creating something to stand on.

 

She could probably do the same thing to move over somewhat larger spaces, but it would be walking on air, rather than actually flying, and therefore impractical for long distances.

[Majsju]

I've always thought that the myth about flying comes from some Aes sedai finding a scrap of paper from the AOL saying that someone was flying. Only, in the AOL they had sho-wings, and just like in our world, they wouldn't write that part out since everyone reading aboiut people flying would know what it's all about.

[Githraine]

Elayne's platform was a bridge, it was stated it connected the 2 poles.

As for flying, I think, besides the Sho Wings. a person could fly using hardened ait to create an airfoil (wing) and air, fire or a combination to create thrust, the 2 components for sustained flight.  By creting Sho Wings, the AS in the AOL understood these principals, so they should have been able to do this.  But that was not really how the power was used, I think it would have been considered vulgar.  Buch better to just Travel.

[fireblade]

I agree Elayne was making a bridge to walk across the rope, flying or suspending yourself is a totally different consept