I read a claim that learning the flute detracts from one’s ability to play the whistle due to the different breath requirements. Is it really difficult to be both a good whistle player AND a good flute player?
Also, I’ve heard that flute players have frighteningly large, muscular lips. Is this true?
I also heard that to keep in shape, Michael McGoldrick does 100 pushups every morning using ONLY his lips. Is this true???
Put down the pint…slowly…and to answer your first, and only real question…there are many fine flute players who also play whistle. I see no issue with switching between the two.
Eric
Now this is hilarious. You can only move about an inch on this. Anatomically speaking, the length of the nose is usually longer even on a full stretch lips. But it may not apply to all.
Another thing, the strength of the lips may only be enough to raise the hear head not the whole body.
Like Dennis R****n’s ? 
you scared me right.
I have been slowly practicing a sideblown flute and as far as I can see, your lips embouchure is just a consistent positioning of your lips.
I dont think you need a super muscle to do that constant position.
What I do think is you need a lot of breath compare to whistle.
Breath control is not just lips function but also diaphragm and lungs.
I think it may also be true that if you get kissed by a flute player you can actually lift both feet off the ground.
Everyone knows that trumpet players are the best kissers; just ask any of the girls that were in my high-school band. 
My son is a cornet player. I keep telling him it’s for his benefit but i don’t think he is seeing the bigger picture.
Chuck Norris does 100 pushup’s just using his moustache hairs. If Chuck played flute he would probably have to carry his lips in a wheelbarrow. 
Cayden
If only. I look like this guy:
I’ve been playing flute for around 20 years, now. No buff lip awesomeness for me.
If there was a like button on this thread I could have clicked liked on many replies.
Was it Jack Coen who said that flute players would find their playing adversely affected by whistle?
Someone of that ilk, anyway…
m.d.
One thing that flute players better look out for - bad breath!
It’s not good to be blowing that stinky in my face.
No, he’s Chuck Norris, he wouldn’t need to carry his lips in a wheelbarrow!
Anyway, to the original question, with a serious answer, I don’t think the breath reqs are a problem with flute and whistle, I mean, its really no different that high whistle vs. low whistle. I personally have no problem adapting to the different breath requirements in a breeze (haha). Although, when a flute/whistle player (fluent in both) picks between a flute and a whistle, they will probably choose the flute because it gives a larger variety of sounds, and is in some cases easier to play than whistle, so I’d say false.
To the second statement (probably already answered, but oh well 
), FALSE! Definitely false… In my experience, the flute/wind players have the small lips, and the people with the large lips tend to favor brass (and for the select few, the didgeridoo), but of course there are some exceptions.
One thing the bouzouki player needs to watch out for is the drippy stuff emanating from the end of the flute. Don’t ask…
Paul
The danger is thinking that whistle playing is flute playing. If you want to play well on the flute practice the flute. If you want to play well on whistle practice whistle. The danger is thinking practicing one is the same as the other. I did just that and suffered for some time. I practiced whistle because I found it easier and it was there assembled ready to go. Than I would go to sessions and play flute and wonder why the tunes werent flying off. after all the fingering is the same.
I would imagine thats what people are on about when they say these things.
I agree with Dunnp there.
Also, the difference between air requirements of flute v whistle are tiny compared to the air requirements of either v Highland pipes, and there are plenty of people who have no difficulty switching back and forth between Highland pipes and whistle or flute.
The “air requirements” factor is only one of several stylistic differences between trad fluteplaying and trad whistleplaying; most people play the two instruments with rather different styles.