Hanger-Flyer

Well, at least I think it was a falcon. Big curved beak like an eagle, but much smaller with gold colors under wings.

This bird lives around a park where I have flown before. Today, he began to fly along side the my Mini-Piper each time I launched it.

Finally, the bird swooped down and grabbed at the plane! I landed and quit for the day. Not interested in fixing up the plane after working on it last night, thank you!

This bird was not just curious...he attacked! I am sure he would have been in for a huge surprise when the prop started to chop at him had he caught the plane.

Any other experiences like this, folks?[]

cafplanekid

My Feedback: (1)

Ive had a dogfight with a buzzard before. He was chasing my Miss2, and i did a tight loop and came up behind him. He took off.

Bill L

Hangar Flyer, YES, I was out in the soccer fields beside my house, first flight in my often repaired Mini Max. I made one circle, and was still trying to trim it up and 3 or 4 small type of hawks, like pigeon hawks or cooper hawks started diving and swooping around poor Max. I got very disoriented, was too close to the ground, or something, and lost it into the ground. It made a neat play toy for my 2 year old grandson after I removed my radio and gear and pointy stuff. Chimney swifts take a curious, but distant look at my Tubby Cubby but cause me no problem. Mosquitoes chase me more than hawks.[:@]

JanetC

Yes me too I had a few starlings trying to escort my Firebird Outlaw out of their airspace my first time out. Glad you didnt lose your plane

BasinBum

My Feedback: (2)

It's a good thing you landed as that falcon would probably take your plane out in an instant if it really wanted to. I saw a red tailed hawk midaired by a lanier Predator Q500 w/ a Nelson engine. The plane was probably doing 140+mph and when it hit the bird and then exploded! The bird fell for about 20 feet and then recovered and flew to a nearby tree where it rested before flying away.

It is also against the law in many states to harass these birds and looping around them or chasing them could get you a big ticket not to mention that they have rights to the airspace.

red91sit

My Feedback: (2)

Lol never had a falcon attack me but those mosquitos sure do sound funny when i hit them with the prop i accidently hit a bird once i felt soo bad for it but it was his fault there was no way i could tell how close they were there was a bunch of them little black birdies flying around my plane [:-]

MrMulligan

My Feedback: (314)

Where we fly, occasionally the red-winged blackbirds will chase a landing aircraft. They're also pretty territorial.

flyinrog

My Feedback: (1)

I was flying when some blackbirds chased a crow around so I tried to chase them all but it only distracted them all for a few minutes,,, basinbum is right about the falcon, if it meant to attack, your plane wouldnt have survived...and for some odd reason, although rare in this area I have seen them , but the redwing blackbird is extremely territorial, they will actually harass people close to their nesting trees not actually chase but fly over screeching.......Rog

flying klown

My Feedback: (24)

Yes I have had many birds fly along with my Aerobird. I have had a flock of Geese fly around with me in formation going to roost for the night somewhere around the flying field and they circled four times with me before going on. Guess the leader got confused and thought I was taking lead.

cafplanekid

My Feedback: (1)

'It is also against the law in many states to harass these birds and looping around them or chasing them could get you a big ticket not to mention that they have rights to the airspace. '

Wow, havent heard that one before. Pulling a loop behind a buzzard with a 24 ounce S400 trainer doesnt quite qualify as 'harassing', does it? Does remind me of a good story involving a buzzard, though.

BykrDan

Must be a seasonal thing - I've noticed hawks and crows hanging around the park where I fly, for the first time, and yes, one of the hawks was keenly eyeing my Piper with ill intent, though he never made an attack.

He, however, didn't cause me nearly as much trouble as did the no less than FIFTY-something swallows earlier in the summer, when they mistakenly thought that my RareBear would be stirring up bugs for them to eat. I could hardly see the plane through the birds at times. I had to hold a straight and level course for fear of hitting one of them :^)

3DFanatic

My Feedback: (5)

Hehehe.

I've joined up with geese in a V-formation with my Zagi 400X before. They didn't care. It was fun.

flyinrog

My Feedback: (1)

most birds of prey as well as songbirds have restrictions relating to harming them (harrassing) since most cities are bird sanctuaries but I'm pretty sure your ok legally in chasing crows or buzzards ....the odd accident does happen, but I'd bet if you were trying there is no way you'd be able to hit a bird..not with an electric plane anyway..Rog

BasinBum

My Feedback: (2)

Doesn't that statement look funny when you have this as your signature?