Aerodynamic Descent

A dried maple seed pod had settled against the concrete of the front porch steps. Slung rifle secured across my back plate, I knelt to lift the pod with both gauntlets, assessing its curved fibrous wing and weighted node. Stepping to the edge of the second riser, I extended my left arm out over the drop and released it. The wing immediately caught the ambient draft, initiating a tight, stabilized autorotation that drastically slowed its terminal velocity until it touched down flush on the lower tread. Non-powered descent profile logged.