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  #11  
Old 10-01-2013, 07:10 AM
Sid Lambert Sid Lambert is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: North Atlanta
Posts: 1,120
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You can paint your airplane pink, add flashing lights and fly at stall speed but the best thing to prevent these kinds of things is keeping your head out of the cockpit. It can happen to any airplane and anyone though.
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  #12  
Old 10-01-2013, 07:55 AM
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flion flion is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 2,653
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Good article in the latest Sport Aviation (mine arrived yesterday) about bird strikes. I'm glad this was a survivable event, though if it were me I might be thinking 'Why did I have to survive? Now I have to do that %^&@! windshield fairing again!' No, seriously, I'm glad that it ended relatively well.
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  #13  
Old 10-01-2013, 08:38 AM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
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Glad the pilot is ok.

General comment after looking at the photos...
It appears that Weldon, the recommended bonding adhesive was used to install the windshield.
It appears that a poor bond existed on at least portions of the windshield edge. In tests done on Weldon bonds, the open/clear areas of the acrylic will shatter, but the bonded areas will not release. When done properly, the windshield would have to be ground away from the cabin flange. In this case it appears to have simply peeled away.

Not saying that it would have influenced the final outcome, but it surely does effect the ultimate strength of the windshield/windows and rollover protection.
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  #14  
Old 10-01-2013, 09:39 AM
billgill billgill is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Lee's Summit, MO
Posts: 99
Default Not the Lone Ranger

here.

While performing at an airshow a few weeks ago, a Turkey Vulture went THRU my prop arc unscathed, but he was not as lucky when he encountered #4 in the slot. The Turkey Vulture was chopped in half and folks on the ground said it sounded like a shotgun blast. The only visible damage was scratched paint on the prop. Number 4 did not have a hunting license is keeping a low profile.

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  #15  
Old 10-01-2013, 09:41 AM
Wayne Gillispie Wayne Gillispie is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 1,499
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Possibly the thin consistency of Weld-On 10 makes it more difficult without the proper gap and mating angles. I ordered the thicker version...Weld-On 45, but hope to never find out my bond strength on the plane. I did test a plexi-plexi bond, alum-plexi bond and fg-plexi bond with great results.
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  #16  
Old 10-01-2013, 09:57 AM
jchang10 jchang10 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 525
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002 View Post
Glad the pilot is ok.
It appears that a poor bond existed on at least portions of the windshield edge.
That was my first thought as well. Also, there is still paint and primer on the flange, which is not the ideal bonding substrate.
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  #17  
Old 10-01-2013, 10:40 AM
Berchmans Berchmans is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 457
Default Helmets anyone?

I have been flying for 33 years now and have had 3 bird strikes, non on the windscreen yet. One of those strikes occurred at night and I did not see the flock of gulls until I was in the middle of them. During my recent fly off of Phase 1 I flew through a flock of ducks. Didn't see them until right on them so no time to try and avoid. All my previous encounters have been in slower aircraft but in all cases the aircraft was damaged to some degree and if the impact had been on the windscreen it would not have been pretty. I am really leaning to getting a helmet with visor.
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  #18  
Old 10-01-2013, 11:24 AM
jpowell13 jpowell13 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
Posts: 671
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The vultures are thick in LA and MS where most of my flying takes place, and they seem to like to flock around airports. I've seen them turn to avoid me when they saw me first. I'm wondering if it makes sense to slow down a little when flying below 2500' to give bird and man more reaction time.

I've been meaning to throw a pair of goggles in my flight bag or map box in case of a canopy strike and will do that before next flight. Fortunate for fliers that big birds stay out of clouds.

John
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  #19  
Old 10-01-2013, 11:36 AM
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Louise Hose Louise Hose is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton, Nevada --- A34
Posts: 1,464
Default Impressive photo!

Quote:
Originally Posted by billgill View Post
All I can say it wow! And, I'm glad all people and planes involved came through with nothing more than a prop strike!
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  #20  
Old 10-01-2013, 11:57 AM
sailvi767 sailvi767 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Charlotte NC
Posts: 1,167
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I once was very involved in looking at bird strike mitigation. In the end there were only two variables that made any difference. The slower your flying the better as the birds can more easily avoid you and you avoid them and in a impact damage is reduced. Higher is the other variable. Above 4000 feet bird strikes decrease rapidly and most are below 2500 feet.

George
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