RE: Fod screens impacts
As in everything, there is not a single cure for all potential problems.
A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine was doing the maiden of an spectacular Tam's F-18 powered by a JC 160SX.
His first landing attempt was hot, so he decided to abort after he was already on the ground (short runway).
The airplane rotated just a foot or two before the end of the runway.
The wild grass around the runway was about one foot high.
The airplane barely touched the grass. BUT (as we discovered later) ingested a few grass leaves that partially blocked the FOD screen.
Plane wasn't able to gain speed. Went into a sort of high alpha. And, ended up in a lake [:@][:@]
Those few leaves would have easily gone thru the engine if it didn't have the screen.
So, I guess that what helps in some situation can hurt you in another one.
We are still in shock for such a freak and costly accident. Plane and electronics are a total loss. Will see about the engine.
BTW the plane owner is Marco Mascia, great friend and Top Gun competitor.