Interesting topic!!
I've had 2 exciting strikes along with plenty of not too exciting ones.
First in Borneo. I had taken off from Bario, where currently there is a helicopter missing, in a Wessex with 15 ghurkas in the back. As I levelled off and accelerated to a high speed cruise of 100 kts, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a black object at 10 o'clock flash past followed by a thud felt through my feet and then some tail vibrations. I did a 180 and returned to Bario for a run on landing as the tail felt like it was suffering. After shut down, we saw that a blade pocket, number 19 I think, had detached and hit the tail rotor which was now about 3-4 inches wide and not providing too much thrust. So I have no doubt that a bird strike on the tail would be even more exciting.
The second one was in India. After levelling off at 2000 feet in a 212, sitting in the left seat, I lowered my head to do some sums and I saw a black flash ahead, immediately followed by a huge bang. We had hit a full size eagle with a wing span of at least 3-4 feet. It had hit the plastic window above my head, pushing it down about 3 inches and thus spilling his guts down the back of my neck and into various holes and slots in the frame work. The rest of the bird went through the No 1 engine without too much drama. Needless to say, thanks to the Indian heat, the cockpit spelt bloody terrinble as we couldn't pick out all the little bits!!
