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Old December 2nd 19, 06:35 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
BG[_4_]
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Default Damage from bird strike?

On Monday, December 2, 2019 at 9:11:18 AM UTC-8, wrote:
On Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 10:04:57 AM UTC-8, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
A few weeks ago one of our local Warner Springs pilots had a midair with a hawk on the leading edge of his D2 resulting in substantial damage. One can view on Yankee Composite's social media. Question is, how many have suffered damage needing repair after a bird strike, in a glider? Please share your story.


I was the pilot at Warner Springs with the bird strike that Jonathan mentioned. I believe it was a golden eagle. I was thermalling when I noticed it about 50 yards away and a little above me. I was planning on moving over towards it on my next turn around, thinking it had better lift. But as I came around, he was aiming straight at me and coming fast. The image burned in my brain is of his wings and tail twisted up in a last second maneuver it miss me. I think he was trying to scare me and just misjudged. He slammed dead on into my leading edge. Quite a thud, but I still hoped to see him pull out before he hit the ground, When I landed and saw the bloody damage I could see why he didn't make it. No loss of control flying back.Lesson learned: don't **** off eagles.



While flying out of Dillingham on the North Shore of Oahu, I hit a Frigate bird with the leading edge of a ASW17 on landing. No damage to the plane, only a bloody spot with some feathers left behind by the poor bird. The birds would hang out around the threshold, mine was not the first bird strike.. Closing speed was mostly for me, he was taking off nearly vertically.

I have had many close encounters with hawks, eagles, and Condors. Only the hawks have shown signs of aggression. The will some times roll over and show you there talons if you get too close. The condors were the most benign, we climbed nearly 3k in the same thermal then went on our own separate ways.

BG