Bug Attack!

Ironflight · #1 07-31-2007, 04:24 PM

Thirty five years in the cockpit, and still I see "fists" every day....

As I was climbing out after clearing the KOSH airspace the other day, headed for Minnesota, I was in clear air when suddenly I heard and saw a huge "SPLAT" in front of me. Now, I have hit big bugs before, sometimes hard enough that I thought they'd cracked the windshield,. But this was different. I had a windshield that was literally covered with little gnat-sized hits - I must have hit a swarm of them all at once - I counted way more than 100 on the -8's windshield - and all the hits were simultaneous....and of course, when I landed, I found that the swarm was at least as big as the wingspan of the plane, and I had quite a bit of clean-up to do....

Fortunately, gnat are light enough that when they hit, they don't stick very hard!

Just an oddity for you...glad it wasn't one of those tightly- grouped flocks of birds you sometimes see swarming in the city!

Paul

CraigC · #2 07-31-2007, 04:39 PM

Paul,

If that was thursday I got them too. Headed between cells for the Dells. About 2 min out of OSH got attacked by a gaggle. At least they were small and apparently had windex for blood as they cleaned right off!

Ironflight · #3 07-31-2007, 04:51 PM

That was them Craig. Right about the same location....laying in wait for us between cells!

the_other_dougreeves · #4 07-31-2007, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironflight

But this was different. I had a windshield that was literally covered with little gnat-sized hits - I must have hit a swarm of them all at once - I counted way more than 100 on the -8's windshield - and all the hits were simultaneous....and of course, when I landed, I found that the swarm was at least as big as the wingspan of the plane, and I had quite a bit of clean-up to do....

Now wait a minute .... NASA's finest gets surprised by ... bugs? With a thread title like "bug attack", I was at least hoping for a swarm of bees attacking a SWA 737.

Geico266 · #5 07-31-2007, 04:54 PM

They must be coming off the swampy areas to the west. I too was attacked. Good thing I flew in the rain for 50 miles. Washed some off, softened up the rest.

Tech Tip: I add a dash of Fantsatic or 409 to my bug clean up water. Makes the water wetter and cleans the bugs off faster.

AlexPeterson · #6 07-31-2007, 08:48 PM

Paul, your post reminded me of a time several years ago when I was flying the RV somewhere in Tennessee I believe. I was flying relatively low to minimize a headwind, and I started hearing bugs splatting. These weren't gnats though, they were bigger juicier ones, leaving splats around a 1/4" around. After about two minutes, I realized if I didn't climb, I'd lose my forward vis. Anyway, I climbed above the bugs and continued on. I'd estimate that about 1/2 to 3/4's of the windscreen was occluded by the guts.

Another time I was flying over a lake in MN around 1000 agl. I happened to be looking straight ahead (lots of birds over the lakes), when I momentarily was preparing to push the stick forward to dive to avoid hitting a bird that was coming right at the windshield. Before I could even comprehend exactly what I was seeing, it hit the prop and busted into a couple chunks. Anyway, I didn't know such large, greasy bugs existed. Two large plops of guts nailed the windshield, they must have been two inches in diameter each.

I guess that is one of the reasons that winter flying is so delightful in MN.

petehowell · #7 07-31-2007, 11:16 PM

Paul,

Hit the same bugs just north of Mason City on Saturday. Maybe they migrate west?????

pierre smith · #8 08-01-2007, 06:00 AM

You guys ain't seen nothin' yet!! I exterminate them for a living down here in the scorching South. My Air Tractor has a three-piece windshield with the center a double-pane safety glass, a windshield washer and wiper just for this. We use a 50-50 mix of denatured alcohol and water in the washer tank.

Full moon periods always seem to bring more bugs and yes, they do seem to layer sometimes. Occasionally, I'll collect so many before I get to the field that I can barely see to spray. Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of climbing since I need to be around 2-3' above the crop canopy where the bugs lie in wait.....

Back to the fumes,
Pierre

petehowell · #9 08-01-2007, 06:09 AM

Pierre - I'm not worthy in the bug wars! Any guy with a wiper for bug guts is OK with me.

I have heard some spray planes have a cable cutter in case they hit a wire - is that true? Have you ever hit a cable?

videobobk · #10 08-01-2007, 06:22 AM

On takeoff Saturday morning, I had a Cessna behind me and to my left of 36. When things were feeling just about "right," I started to rotate and glanced at my air speed. Zero! Plan B, Fly The Airplane. Shallowed the turn to 160 degrees and pondered my situation. I have a pretty good feel for the plane, so no big deal--go to another airport and check static/pitot system. About 30 miles later it cleared and I flew on home. It had to be a bug. And yes, the pitot cover was on all the time at OSH. Going out today and blowing out the line.

Bob Kelly