The Meridian doesn't like hitting things.

Birds haven't mastered the concept of avoiding aircraft in Iraq.

I was in a Blackhawk unit, and once we had to send a helo down to Baghdad to pick up an entire spare rotor blade. Simple process, really. It comes in a big huge rectangular can, so you just slide both cargo doors open and place the blade on the floor of the 'Hawk. Some cargo straps and 100 mph tape to make sure the can will handle the wind blast, and you're good to go.

Well, that also creates a good deal of suction in the cabin. It's hot, too, so the crewchief would likely have his gunner's window open. Crewchiefs sit riding sideways right behind the pilots, mind you.

So my buddy is riding along while they fly this blade up from Baghdad, and sure enough, here comes a big flock of Iraqi moron birds that think helicopters are just really funny looking clouds, or something.

A bunch pepper the underside of the aircraft, where nobody can see them, but one zooms up the side and into the crewchief window, where it proceeds to impact the crewchief, right in the shoulder, near the edge of his body armor.

He hears the thunking under him, then sees the gore all over his shoulder, and starts screaming:

"OH MY GOD!!! I'm hit!! I'm hit!!"

We gave him crap about that for a long time.
 
While on a XC over to Moses Lake yesterday, they had warnings of heavy waterfowl activity around the airport. Luckily I didn't hit any, but had three flocks wiz by me during my decent, sometimes with around 100ft separation. This got me thinking, how would a C152 stand up to a medium sized bird like that? Could one effectively knock off my horizontal or vert stab?
 
Firebird2XC said:
He hears the thunking under him, then sees the gore all over his shoulder, and starts screaming:

"OH MY GOD!!! I'm hit!! I'm hit!!"

We gave him crap about that for a long time.
Click to expand...

You mean he eventually lived it down?! Something like that in my unit and you'll hear about it 5 times a day for the rest of your career. That is, of course, if your new call sign doesn't come from the incident.
 
The Fez said:
You mean he eventually lived it down?! Something like that in my unit and you'll hear about it 5 times a day for the rest of your career. That is, of course, if your new call sign doesn't come from the incident.
Click to expand...


He was a man of many goofs. Shortly thereafter he (all 6'1' 220 lbs of him) was wrestling one of the skinny wiry guys in the shop, on concrete.. and threw him to the ground..

.. and broke his collarbone.

He felt so bad, every time the guy with the broke bone bellowed, he went running. It was actually really funny.
 
:rotfl:That should keep her from enter the flight deck for a while.


Doug Taylor said:
During my 727 engineer years, on a night arrival into BNA about a decade ago, one of the flight attendants was in the cockpit yakking about lord knows what and then "!!!!!WHAPPP!!!!!!!"

I flip the dome light on and apparent a bird struck the rain repellant nozzle, split into two pieces, half was still lodged under the wiper but blood EVERYWHERE.

She starts screaming like that scene from "Psycho".

The captain made some comment like "Dang. Them birds sure got a lotta (crap) in 'em!"

She says, "Oh my GAAAAAWD! Is that bird dead?"

Silence.
Click to expand...
 
braunpilot said:
Why yes he is. He did my Baron training at FLX and I always had a worry in the back of my mind that we would end up with bird pieces in my lap.
Click to expand...

He did my CFI renewal and gold seal a while ago. He's also the assistant to our POI for our 135 charter operation. Nice guy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top