Woketman,

It was in 1999 or 2000, I can't quite remember (I must be getting old). I saw a video of it somewhere (probably yours). He was flying from left to right and hit the bird just as he was coming out of the turn to make a low pass.

I don't know if he is still flying I moved from Orlando to Albuquerque in Jan 2001. I flew here for a year or so (the only turbine driver in town) before buying a house and otherwise getting busy with life. This is my first year back flying so I'm not the person to ask about someone being MIA.

I haven't taken my Bandit up yet as I'm busy learning to fly at 5800 feet above sea level. It got damaged back in 2001 after I overshot the runway (no flaps - not a big deal in FL, but instant death here in ABQ so I learned) tearing out a main gear and cracking the nose. I'm fixing it now and it should have weight on wheels tomorrow night for the first time in six years.

Jim