What IS a flying buttress?
 

Apparently I missed that part of my education wherein flying buttresses were discussed.<BR>Please explain.

According to my COD<BR><BR>flying buttress<BR>· n. Architecture a buttress slanting from a separate column, typically forming an arch with the wall it supports.

It is a structural member on the outside of many cathedrals which supports the higher walls of the cathedrals enabling them to be so high and narrow. If you look at the outside of Notre Dame you see them prominently.<BR>

Hotel Saint Merry in Paris has an unusual feature in Room 9. A flying buttress from the adjoining church traverses the room. You can see it here <BR>www.france-hotel-guide.com/images/stmerch1.jpg<BR>from the website <BR>www.saintmerrymarais.com/

The roof exerts a sideways force, the butress converts this to a downwrds force.

Elaborating on Frank's reply, the weight of the PITCHED roof would normally force the walls outward. Pre-Gothic walls were inordinately thick and opaque; Gothic builders innovated this &quot;shoulder&quot; to allow them to let more light into the ever-higher nave.

There's a famous quote on the subject, generally ascribed to Winston Churchill, when he was once asked &quot;Are you a pillar of the church, Sir Winston?&quot; He replied, &quot;I more resemble a flying buttress -- I support it from the outside!&quot;

As an Architect it is great to see so many informed answers to this post.<BR><BR>On a trip to Scotland recently I got cornered about this question while touring a church...they knew I was an Architect!

It is a female pilot.