Is Fluttershy actually faster than Rainbow Dash?

[theonenamedDJ 37]

Because plot convenience...

 

But outside that, I think Fluttershy is a decent flyer hampered by insecurities. Adrenaline and focus, however can do wonders. Faster than Rainbow Dash though... no.

Edited February 27, 2015 by theonenamedDJ

[paradoxical 1,735]

In the Equestria games Fluttershy seems to hold her own against the Wonderbolts.  No desperate need to save anypony exists.  Yet, she makes up for Bulky's lack of speed to the extent that it's a RD/Spitfire competition in the end.

 

Flutters is mighty fast -- when she feels up to it.

[Dulset Tarn 441]

That would also explain how butterflies could catch her as a filly.

 

Anyway, I'd say both can fly pretty darn fast when something happens to their friends. 

I've heard it said before that the butterflies on her flank actually signify the REAL special talent she discovered that day, the ability to ride on butterflies

[Prince Firemane 309]

Plot devices aside, I believe that Fluttershy has some kind of attention deficit, in that she has a hard time focusing. Whenever she has a hard time focusing, she gets inside her own head and her insecurities take over. She is the kind of pony that while her self-worth remains debatable, the worth she places in others is much greater. She can be highly focused when dealing with something other than herself, making her an excellent caretaker of animals and her friends. But she doesn't take the time to focus on herself, probably because she doesn't feel that she's worthy of it and somepony else could use it more.

 

However, it's been shown that Fluttershy is capable of incredible things when focused and her main vessel of focus is rage. As has been mentioned before, she was able to catch up to Rainbow Dash while being lassoed to a balloon carrying four other ponies. She talked down a full grown dragon and made him cry when she got enraged. When she saw that the CMC were terrified of the cockatrice, she got enraged and seemed to actually have control over The Stare. She tossed around a bear like a ragdoll and performed an intense, chiropractic massage on him, though that was out of focus over the bear's problem and not rage.

 

I don't think Fluttershy's capable of flying faster than Rainbow Dash, but I do believe she can still fly amazingly fast when focused enough not to allow herself to get inside her own head and let her insecurities take over.

[Red Cedar 1,408]

Fluttershy is probably better than she gives herself credit for and can push herself into some impressive feats when the chips are down, but Rainbow Dash is a natural and will not only likely beat Fluttershy when going flat-out, but will also have much better endurance as Fluttershy doesn't tend to push herself often.

[Flutter's lover <3 8,206]

I think it would depend on the situation really. If she was determined and set on something (say rescue a critter from a falling tree or other imminent danger, or saving a friend) Then I believe she could be pretty fast...Like in Harmony Part 2....I'd also like to think that Dash still being discorded, had an effect on her flying speeds, allowing Flutters to catch up to her. But  Maybe when she's that focused and determined, maybe she doesn't even realize she's flying that fast. Plus not being the competitive type, she probably doesn't care how fast she flies under normal circumstances. She uses her wings as a necessity, she doesn't always use  them, but when she does..it's needed, usually. IE flying toads to a swamp, feeding animals in a tree, finale of the Ponytones song...etcetera.

 

Other reasons being for plot reasons...just how the writers need it to be, which seems to be a too often of a case. ;(

 

Nevertheless, she's still a capable flyer. I mean, she was Learning to Fly in Cloudsdale. Every pegasus can fly. It's their natural born ability.

[AlbaTross 1,586]

I think Fluttershy's low self esteem is a big part of why doesn't always fly very fast. Hurricane Fluttershy is proof that she can do better when she actually pushes herself. Otherwise, Fluttershy often pushes herself sub-consciously when her friends need her or an animal is in danger. It's no different than when a human experiences an adrenaline rush when he or she is in danger or needs to save someone else. Rainbowdash is far more athletic and puts in a lot of time and effort to become the best flyer she can be, so if she really went all out in a flying competition against Fluttershy there would be no contest. Keep in mind she broke the sound barrier to save Rarity and the Wonderbolts. Also, it's possible that Rainbowdash modifies her speed when she and Fluttershy have to fly side by side.

[Sidral Mundet 1,666]

Fluttershy being faster than Rainbow Dash? No, I highly doubt that. 

Fluttershy being a good flyer? Yes that I think is true.  

 

I think with Fluttershy she's holding herself back because of her childhood and the belief that she is a weak flyer cause she has had many moments where her speed has come through, such as in The Return of Harmony, The Last Roundup and Secret of My Excess. But I don't think she'd be able to beat Rainbow Dash since RD's been training for as long as we've known her.  

[TailsIsNotAlone 3,695]

No, but she's a good flyer when she really needs to be. On a typical day, she would much rather stay close to the ground where most of the animals are.