Well this weekend happened what I thought was almost impossible... I crashed with a bird...
I was flying my F-4 doing a low pass over the runway when a bird passed right in front of my jet. I was going full power and at about 1,5 meters above ground. No time to react and I heard a big noise and a bird and feathers all over. The F-4 barelly moved and I gently pull up elevator to gain altitude and see what was the status of the jet. After a pass I lowered the landing gear and landed the F-4 safetly. For my luck I hit the bird with the nose of the jet and then with the cockpit. Most damage is on the canopy and cockpit. The nose has a few cracks on the paint but no apparent damage. But I will do a good inspection of the are inside.

Well I am very sorry for the bird but I am happy the damage to my F-4 was just that, since it could have been a LOT worst. I hope to have it flying again soon.

Michel

If you had a JetCat turbine in that F4 the bird would not have been able to keep up...

that's like hitting an ostridge in a Lear jet your Lucky anything is left

Just be glad it wasn't a stinkin foamy.


David

Damn! Ripped the pilots head right off [X(]

lol, That pilot is hilarious. Sorry for the bird but wow, it's amaizing you were able to bring it back in. Nice flying.

Andy

Yes I was very lucky... If the bird would have hit a wing or the elevator most probably I would have lost the jet...[&o]

Afterburner... Good one...

By the way the pilot did have hands before the incident...[X(]

Michael,

I'm really very happy for you that you were able to bring your F-4 back to ground with the limited damage. You have a story (with photos) that will entertain pilots for decades. (This one time, at band camp....whoops, sorry, that's something else.)

I've seen a bird-strike happen one other time. A buddy and I were flying at the RCACF field in Florida when, during a high speed pass, his Cyclone was impacted on the left wing leading edge by a sparrow. The wing cut the bird in two and other than some feathers and blood on the top and bottom of the wing, there was no damage to the aircraft. Too bad about the bird. RIP. He painted a bird symbol on the fuselage below the canopy. I suggested that he try not to make ace.

Jim

Good thing you had the back seater in their to land that thing......

..This is awfull...you have probabally orphaned a nestfull of young chicks...who will now slowly starve to death.

You must find the nest and hand rear them now.

Fly carefully..

I have trouble with bird strikes all the time. My jet is so slow they keep running into the back of it. [&o]

These guys were doing 550 kmh when they hit a pelican at 3000ft. They commented they didn't expect a bird strike at that altitude. The poor bird then went through the starboard engine which did the engine no good at all! - John.

...I'm sure you have seen this.....worth a second look though..

RC Jets, that was Zoomie, right? I still have a video of him killing that bird with a Cyclone. What ever happened to him? Still flying?

Here is the video of my friend's AD-Scorpion hitting bird(s?). The antenna was bent to 90 degree and a few feather and blood found on vertical fin. But this bug was survive in bird strike.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...30357455466650

It happened to Jason Fletcher at the very first JetPower meet in Germany in 2003.

He was flying his BVM Sabre with the prototype SuperSport and he hit a pigeon. He did an amazing job getting the plane down safely.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_11...Cstrike/tm.htm

Edit: this link takes you to the second page of the thread, I've tried to link to the first page but it seems to be too old. However, once you are on the second page you can access the first page.

Sara Parish
Wren Turbines

Huevon de Mierda! Si habÃ*a volado realmente baja, como les he indicado ... que hubiera volado bajo el pájaro! Gran trabajo ... LOL!

Beave

Indeed ... now we need to start a poll to decide whether Stinking Birds should be allowed in the air at the same time as turbines.

Hey Michel,

Does this mean you're ready for the new operating canopies? They're ready except for the clear parts. They should be here this week. It's pretty obvious that you'll be needing a new canopy anyway...Glad to see the F-4 survived. Pretty scary![X(]

Dan

Well that settles it. Time to put the bird proof conopies on these puppies.

Glad to see the F-4 made it back safely.
Don't forget to put the little bird symbol on the side of the fuse and give the pilot and bird a proper burial.

Good Luck
Joe L.

Well the bird we ate it..... It did had a slight kero smell and was a bit dry..... Just kidding...

Dan, OPERATING CANOPIES!!!!! Wow I need to see some pictures of those... Very interesting... Can you provide them painted or would I have to do that myself?
Send me some pics...

Michel

Michel,

I can paint them black for you, but I can't guarantee the color will match your bird. Mainly, they are in primer. I'll send you some pictures tomorrow of the fiberglass parts, pneumatics and hinge systems. The clear parts are shipping tomorrow from Texas from the vacu-former. The entire system is really sweet. [)]

Dan

Can't wait for the pics.... Hurry...[X(]

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

Wow thats amazing.. glad to see the F4 made it back OK, youre lucky ! [X(]