Bird Strike - anecdotes/ experiences?
Just thought I would share what happened to me last Monday with you and seek views as to whether I was lucky, did the correct thing and see what similar experiences other Ppruners may have.
I have a T tail Arrow 4 and was flying along over Quiberon bay, Southern Brittany en route Isle D'Yeu - Quiberon at about 2500' alt. All well with the world, sun shining, great vis. autopilot doing its job, on way to one of my favourite airfields.
Remarked to my passenger a seagull passing by about 200' below and thought to myself it was quite high. Then about 20 seconds later I see another right in front of me (maybe slightly higher) obviously wheeling and turning in an attempt to avoid me. 2 seconds after I saw it, with no time to avoid, it hit the brow of the windscreen on passenger's side where the perspex meets the metal with a huge bang!
One of those brown trouser moments! It had not appeared to have hit the prop and I can only assume it was descending when it hit and had thereby avoided the prop arc. My main concern was the tail - where had the bird gone after it hit the windscreen?
My passenger and I, another PPL, agreed to turn straight towards land which was only about 1 mile away and follow the bay around to Quiberon. I did a gentle control check, 1st of ailerons which I expected to be fine and then of tail controls VERY GENTLY. All seemed fine, circuit, approach and landing normal.
Inspected aircraft, slight dent above windscreen, assorted feather, blood and guts remaining - yuk!
Was I lucky? Does it get worse than that? Other experiences for the education of us Ppruners?
Arrow 2