Bird vs Airplane

A while back while landing at Balad Iraq, we hit a flock of birds just prior to landing. All of maybe 100 feet above the ground at night when it was as dark as a whores heart.

It was an exciting landing, and that term should never be used to describe any landing.

Below is just two of the bird strikes. Its a good thing we were slow otherwise the top pic would/could have done serious structural damage and the bird in the bottom pic could have ended up in the navigators lap.

Look close at the top pic. You can actually see the bird. Head, points of wings, feet, ect.

http://coloradoshooting.org/ipw-web/...Herc.sized.jpg

http://coloradoshooting.org/ipw-web/...arts.sized.jpg

Good thing the birds weren't frozen :P

That top Pic is cool!!!

seen plenty of bird strikes in my 14 years of aviation. I have yet to see them penetrate (in person) metal or glass.. but I have seen them take nice chunks out of fiberglass.

Hawks, Vultures and Geese at 250 kts will blow right through a C-130 wing leading edge and if in the right place, a cockpit window.

Short of taking out an engine or a cockpit window, most all bird strikes are pretty harmless.

One of our Herks, #321, has a nasty habit of attracting birds. It takes more bird strikes per year than the other 14 planes combined.

We hit an Ostrich on landing in Somalia in 1994. Messed up the plane (mainly the gear door) pretty bad.

It takes talent to hit flightless birds with an aircraft.

WOW! Nice pics by the way.

Wild pics Tom.
What unit are you with, 302nd?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WillysWagon

What unit are you with, 302nd?

---

Yup. That us. Im actually a 39th guy.

What's the 39th?
My wife was in the 302nd.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WillysWagon

What's the 39th?
My wife was in the 302nd.

---

The Aerial Port Squadron. I run the airdrop and parachute rigging section and do double duty in the flying squadron.