Ed_Wischmeyer
Well Known Member
So yesterday I'm trucking along on final approach in the RV-9A, 350 ft AGL, 80 knots (fast because I'm cleared for a long landing), when this stupid turkey vulture decides not to abide by the right of way rules. Having practiced vigorous low speed maneuvers in advance, I achieved a 55° bank and 13° nose down, recovering at about 200 ft AGL. Digital data after the fact showed that I had plenty of margin in airspeed, AOA, and g load for a more vigorous recovery to avoid hitting the ground, had that been required. In any case, that bird avoidance commanded my full attention.
In many other airplanes, I most likely would not have attempted this frisky maneuvering. But this raises the question -- when do you accept a bird strike vs when do you maneuver vigorously to avoid it? Seems to me that if the. bird strike is going to be on the wing, you'd accept it and fly on. If the bird strike is on the windshield, you might maneuver more vigorously. And like an engine failure right after takeoff, maybe this is something to be considered in advance.
Once, in a C172, I hit a duck on short final (me, that is, don't know about the duck) on the wing and there was no noticeable effect on handling. A C172RG in that same flying club hit another duck at higher speed and the shredded duck came to rest in the back of the cabin. That plane landed fine, and there are youtube videos of light planes surviving bird strikes to the windshield. But I always wear glasses in the plane for at least minimal eye protection, and my vision is good enough that I can fly just fine without glasses -- except for maybe wind blast.
Put on your CFI hats for a moment -- what would you teach a student pilot to do?
In many other airplanes, I most likely would not have attempted this frisky maneuvering. But this raises the question -- when do you accept a bird strike vs when do you maneuver vigorously to avoid it? Seems to me that if the. bird strike is going to be on the wing, you'd accept it and fly on. If the bird strike is on the windshield, you might maneuver more vigorously. And like an engine failure right after takeoff, maybe this is something to be considered in advance.
Once, in a C172, I hit a duck on short final (me, that is, don't know about the duck) on the wing and there was no noticeable effect on handling. A C172RG in that same flying club hit another duck at higher speed and the shredded duck came to rest in the back of the cabin. That plane landed fine, and there are youtube videos of light planes surviving bird strikes to the windshield. But I always wear glasses in the plane for at least minimal eye protection, and my vision is good enough that I can fly just fine without glasses -- except for maybe wind blast.
Put on your CFI hats for a moment -- what would you teach a student pilot to do?
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