Could Balrogs Fly

[piosenniel]

Tolkien didn't do an artistic illustration of a balrog, but he did do one with words:

This a quote from just before the Balrog steps onto the bridge and Gandalf has not yet forbidden him to cross -

His enemy reached the bridge. . . His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings . . .

ROTK - The Bridge of Khazad-Dhum

And this is just after he has first forbidden the Balrog to cross and it begins to advance -

The Balrog made no answer. The fire in it seemed to die,but the darkness grew. It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge, ans suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall.

ROTK - The bridge of Khazad-Dhum.

Once the bridge breaks,the Balrog was not able to use his wings of shadow -

With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward, and its shadow plunged down, and vanished.

ROTK - The Bridge of Khazad-Dhum