[Why would he care if he got a little hurt in the process!]

Sure.

[He does more or less simulate some regular flight with them, flapping to take off and such. But he definitely just sort of levitates in midair and while he positions them in such a way it looks like they could be doing something to help with drag and such, they aren't really part of what propels him forward or anything.

They're more or less aesthetic. Rip.]