Mechanics of Broom Flight

[jdr0918]

No: HPFGUIDX 101471

<<<In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Lady Macbeth"  wrote:
<<The Sergeant Majorette says: I get the impression that you lean 
forward. Jem  replied: Madam Hooch said you leaned forward to 
descend.  I'm unclear how it works.>>

...It would actually make sense for the broom to speed up as the 
rider leaned closer because the rider is then creating less wind 
resistance...>>>

The Sergeant Majorette says

How about this: the body movement in relation to the broom controls 
speed, and steering pressure applied through the arms (If your arms 
are more or less rigid as mine would be on my first broom ride, you'd 
be leaning forward and pushing down) controls direction.

Of course, I can't even play the stupid Quidditch video game. And 
I've never seen a pre-Potter picture of a traditional broom-rider 
that was anything but a female, generally riding sidesaddle, which 
has got to be the only sensible way to do it...

--JDR