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  #11  
Old 10-13-2010, 02:12 PM
dnjfletch dnjfletch is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Vail, AZ
Posts: 5
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In my previous life as a glider pilot, I was running between thermals around 10K MSL north of Las Vegas, when I spotted what looked like a fuzzy ball ahead. As I passed it, it turned out to be a swarm of bees. They were clumped together in a ball about the size of a basket ball, with some flying around the edges making it look "fuzzy". I was really glad I didn't hit the ball head on. I don't remember where the air vent intake was on that glider, but I probably would have ended up with a lot of angry bees in a rather restricted area.
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  #12  
Old 10-13-2010, 02:52 PM
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mike newall mike newall is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Yorkshire, England
Posts: 2,052
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Slightly related - we get bat strikes at night down route.

Climbing out in a Airbus 330 we get the odd 'thunk' at night.

No feathers so they must be mammals
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  #13  
Old 10-13-2010, 05:20 PM
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westorman westorman is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Altus OK
Posts: 1
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Hit a large bug around 12,000 MSL in northern Mississippi. Surprised all three of us in the plane.
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  #14  
Old 10-13-2010, 08:23 PM
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RV7AJeremy RV7AJeremy is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gilbert AZ
Posts: 414
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I almost hit a bird at FL240, no joke, my entire entire crew could not believe our eyes
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  #15  
Old 10-13-2010, 10:50 PM
vgb vgb is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: northern Cal
Posts: 111
Default Siskiyou county bugs

Our bugs were just heading south for the winter
Stay away from MT shasta when it has a cap on it as it will rock your ship.
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  #16  
Old 10-14-2010, 04:44 AM
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turbo turbo is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Stuart, FL /Hartford, CT/Virgin Gorda,BVI
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Talking

its always nice to have a camera aboard. pooped on at 3,000 ft,
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  #17  
Old 10-14-2010, 09:21 AM
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jbagley jbagley is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Aloha, or
Posts: 282
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Haven't hit a bug at altitude, but did the opposite once while flying a cessna. Cabin was getting warm so I opened an air vent. A bee must have been stuck in there by positive air pressure since takeoff and it came in through the vent, bounced off the wind screen and landed in my lap.

I did the only sensible thing I could think of; opened a window and let the bee out @ 5-6 thousand feet.

Now I check the air vents during my preflight and/or my run-up.
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  #18  
Old 10-14-2010, 03:45 PM
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Casey Stewart Casey Stewart is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Arlington, WA
Posts: 174
Default Poor bugs

I feel bad for the bugs that hit the windshield. They just dodged their way through the gauntlet of the propeller, peed themselves, got all hyped up on adrenaline, then splat. Life is rough. Off to the airport to clean the canopy again!!!
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  #19  
Old 10-14-2010, 06:05 PM
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RV8iator RV8iator is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Saint Simons Island , GA
Posts: 1,523
Default padoom pom

Quote:
Originally Posted by N941WR View Post
Q: What's the last thing to go through a bug's mind as it hits your canopy?
A: It's butt.


Second Rim shot..
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  #20  
Old 10-14-2010, 06:24 PM
scsmith scsmith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ashland, OR
Posts: 2,573
Default Yup, its thermals

And of all the sites where I race gliders, the Shasta valley has the worst bugs. Combination of agriculture, standing water, and good strong thermal conditions.

Its amazing how good your eye is at picking up a big bug about 15-20 ft out in front of you, approaching at 150+ ft/sec. Just enough time to send the reflex to snap your neck back and close your eyes and be convinced that you are going to get clobbered.

What worries me sometimes is that an F-16 closing at 800 ft/sec might look just about the same
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