Comments on: The Truth Behind Aircraft Bird Strikes http://www.tripbase.com/blog/the-truth-behind-aircraft-bird-strikes/ Tripbase Travel Blog Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:06:45 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Michael J. Osborn http://www.tripbase.com/blog/the-truth-behind-aircraft-bird-strikes/comment-page-1/#comment-341 Michael J. Osborn Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:34:41 +0000 http://www.tripbase.com/blog/?p=191#comment-341 Nice job Alan. Picture this…sunny, warm fall afternoon in Lansing, MI. DC9 with Mike Osborn at the controls lines up on the runway for takeoff with a full load of passengers. Engines spool up with a normal acceleration through Vr. Nose comes off the ground when down the runway about 1500 feet in front of us the ground explodes in a black ball. The ball, thousands of black birds who were making the last couple of thousand feet of runway a stopping ground for the long flight south. The first thing that came to mind was spoken aloud, “oh sh#t!” With so many birds there was nothing to do but take it like a man and pray for the best. Less then 3 seconds later it was over…for the birds that is. Counted 9 actual hits on the front windows alone but the engines purred like they were made in America, not even a hiccup. When we landed in Detroit we could tell that we were a hit (no pun intended) when the ground crew started counting all the blood trails on the front of the aircraft. I hope you are right for I have hit enough birds on this one flight to last a lifetime. I must say that training did kick in and in the 3 seconds prior to impact I had devised at least three contingency plans. None were needed. Mike Nice job Alan. Picture this…sunny, warm fall afternoon in Lansing, MI. DC9 with Mike Osborn at the controls lines up on the runway for takeoff with a full load of passengers. Engines spool up with a normal acceleration through Vr. Nose comes off the ground when down the runway about 1500 feet in front of us the ground explodes in a black ball. The ball, thousands of black birds who were making the last couple of thousand feet of runway a stopping ground for the long flight south.

The first thing that came to mind was spoken aloud, “oh sh#t!” With so many birds there was nothing to do but take it like a man and pray for the best. Less then 3 seconds later it was over…for the birds that is. Counted 9 actual hits on the front windows alone but the engines purred like they were made in America, not even a hiccup. When we landed in Detroit we could tell that we were a hit (no pun intended) when the ground crew started counting all the blood trails on the front of the aircraft.

I hope you are right for I have hit enough birds on this one flight to last a lifetime. I must say that training did kick in and in the 3 seconds prior to impact I had devised at least three contingency plans. None were needed.

Mike

]]> By: TMalone http://www.tripbase.com/blog/the-truth-behind-aircraft-bird-strikes/comment-page-1/#comment-332 TMalone Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:54:20 +0000 http://www.tripbase.com/blog/?p=191#comment-332 If anyone is interested there is new forum all about bird strikes: http://www.aviationweek.com/events/current/bird If anyone is interested there is new forum all about bird strikes:
http://www.aviationweek.com/events/current/bird

]]> By: Nora http://www.tripbase.com/blog/the-truth-behind-aircraft-bird-strikes/comment-page-1/#comment-328 Nora Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:59:39 +0000 http://www.tripbase.com/blog/?p=191#comment-328 Great article, Alan. Thanks! Great article, Alan. Thanks!

]]> By: SamJ http://www.tripbase.com/blog/the-truth-behind-aircraft-bird-strikes/comment-page-1/#comment-327 SamJ Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:11:23 +0000 http://www.tripbase.com/blog/?p=191#comment-327 I never knew they actually fired dead chickens into engines to test! OMG. I never knew they actually fired dead chickens into engines to test! OMG.

]]> By: joshiki http://www.tripbase.com/blog/the-truth-behind-aircraft-bird-strikes/comment-page-1/#comment-326 joshiki Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:28:23 +0000 http://www.tripbase.com/blog/?p=191#comment-326 Great read. Bird strikes are clearly no joke. Love the videos. Someone needs to come up with the ultimate bird strike prevention product. Great read. Bird strikes are clearly no joke. Love the videos.
Someone needs to come up with the ultimate bird strike prevention product.

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