Shoreham deer
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,394
Likes: 856
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Inside the 101 Sqn sandbag citadel at Brize, a large rabbit population thrived with no natural enemies. Until one day one of our captains brought in a dog belonging to a relative which she was minding for the day. The dog, that is, not the relative. It thought that all its doggy Christmasses had come at once and had a fine old time chasing bunnies - somewhat unsuccessfully though as it was rather aged.
Another time I'd been away on a trip for a couple of days, then drove home from the 101 car park and into my garage. The next day when I opened the garage door, out popped a most confused bunny! It must have been exploring the car and clung on for dear life as I drove home! It disappeared off into the hedge; there aren't any rabbits around here, so I wonder what became of it?
Another time I'd been away on a trip for a couple of days, then drove home from the 101 car park and into my garage. The next day when I opened the garage door, out popped a most confused bunny! It must have been exploring the car and clung on for dear life as I drove home! It disappeared off into the hedge; there aren't any rabbits around here, so I wonder what became of it?
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,243
Likes: 1,154
From: Central UK
I once encountered a huge metre long tortoise in the middle of the runway at Hargeisa, Somailand. Fortunately I was in a fairly short-landng aircraft and close to taxi speed before I spotted it - after a few disbelieving double-takes.
Shortly after another aircraft - I forget what but much bigger and faster made his traffic calls and I had a heck of a time explaining to him what the hazard was. He asked me if I could go and shoo it off the runway...!
Shortly after another aircraft - I forget what but much bigger and faster made his traffic calls and I had a heck of a time explaining to him what the hazard was. He asked me if I could go and shoo it off the runway...!
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 874
Likes: 13
From: South East.
Many birds and hares disturbed on the take-off run but only one pack of feral dogs (at Naples) crossing just as we opened up. Thought better of trying to mix it with them !
Foxes ? Regular occurrence at Malaga, trotting along the taxiway. No way were they going to give way ! Just remember to stay far enough back not to suck 'em up......
Foxes ? Regular occurrence at Malaga, trotting along the taxiway. No way were they going to give way ! Just remember to stay far enough back not to suck 'em up......
Joined: Nov 2011
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 2,870
Likes: 508
From: Japan
Trackday at Marham, approaching 180 mph when a hare lollopped across the runaway ahead of me. I knew it would continue across, so didn't brake or do anything sudden.
In the middle of the runway it stopped, turned and sat up, looking straight at me. I can see it in my mind's eye. How I managed to brake (shudderingly) and avoid it (on two wheels?) without the car turning over, I still do not know...
In the middle of the runway it stopped, turned and sat up, looking straight at me. I can see it in my mind's eye. How I managed to brake (shudderingly) and avoid it (on two wheels?) without the car turning over, I still do not know...
Joined: Feb 2006
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 1,129
Likes: 168
From: Station 42
Don't know about now but in 1988 La Rochelle airport used to have sheep grazing the grass beside the runway. They didn't seem peturbed in the least.
I've done metal repairs to light aircraft that had landing disagreements with various African creatures straying onto bush strips. One (a small gazelle ISTR) dashed across the 'runway' and managed to damage the MLG strut front fairing of an Islander on its landing run without going through the prop.
A buffalo (or some other large beast) wrote off a landing KingAir 200 on another strip, luckily with no human casualties.
I've done metal repairs to light aircraft that had landing disagreements with various African creatures straying onto bush strips. One (a small gazelle ISTR) dashed across the 'runway' and managed to damage the MLG strut front fairing of an Islander on its landing run without going through the prop.
A buffalo (or some other large beast) wrote off a landing KingAir 200 on another strip, luckily with no human casualties.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 138
From: 50+ north
Many years ago, before the airport boundary was totally fenced in, we had a French registered Be 200 departing SOU at night that reported “sum fing on ze runway” after departing. Runway inspection initiated that reported two deceased deer found.
An executive decision made that it was unfortunate (for the deer), bird strike report not appropriate, evidence spirited away (believed by fire crew), never did see an MOR!
An executive decision made that it was unfortunate (for the deer), bird strike report not appropriate, evidence spirited away (believed by fire crew), never did see an MOR!
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 174
From: England
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 108
Likes: 2
From: Northampton UK
Short final at Cottonwood, Az, a large dog appeared through a gap in the fence bordering a housing subdivision alongside the runway and ran right across in front of me. "Oh well", I thought, "He's gone now" and continued the approach.
What I hadn't reckoned on were the kids who were chasing the dog! They burst through the fence and ran right across in front of me as I was about to flare. I pulled up, zoomed over them, and touched down beyond, needing all of the runway remaining to stop.
I should have gone around (or somewhere else) at the first sight of the dog of course. As they say, "I learned about flying from that".
What I hadn't reckoned on were the kids who were chasing the dog! They burst through the fence and ran right across in front of me as I was about to flare. I pulled up, zoomed over them, and touched down beyond, needing all of the runway remaining to stop.
I should have gone around (or somewhere else) at the first sight of the dog of course. As they say, "I learned about flying from that".
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,807
Likes: 10
From: Ansião (PT)
Rude as it may sound, I am not sure I'd not have thought the same about the youngsters than you thought about the dog.
But, admittedly, that is easier to say/write/type than to actually do. A good thing, probably, for mankind. Keeping stupidity alive and all that. Did you make sure that lessons were learned?
But, admittedly, that is easier to say/write/type than to actually do. A good thing, probably, for mankind. Keeping stupidity alive and all that. Did you make sure that lessons were learned?
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 266
Likes: 5
From: U.K.
I used to fly the Aurigny Trislanders. One sunny afternoon, I made the first landing of the day on the cross, grass runway. As I crossed the threshold, I saw the grass runway was covered with rabbits dozing in the sunshine. As I flared I was aware of rabbits scattering in all directions. My rabbit loving girlfriend (now wife), when I told her, said I was mean. I pointed out they hadn’t paid a landing fee!
I jokingly asked Alderney tower (who I knew personally) if they had any forms for rabbit strikes!
Re the OP, having been a passenger in a car that hit a deer, I wouldn’t want to hit one in an aircraft.
I jokingly asked Alderney tower (who I knew personally) if they had any forms for rabbit strikes!
Re the OP, having been a passenger in a car that hit a deer, I wouldn’t want to hit one in an aircraft.
Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 12,446
Likes: 367
From: Wildest Surrey
Back in the early days of Pprune, I saw a photo of an L 410 which had landed somewhere in Africa and the pilot had gone elswhere. When he returned about 30 min later, he found a whole pride of lions had found the shade produced by his wings and were laying there looking at him.
Joined: Nov 2006
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 243
Likes: 11
From: Top Bunk
Waited for nearly 10 mins on a taxiway in Orlando after landing. At 6 kg or so a Gopher Tortoise could destroy an engine (330). Pax saw the funny side after the PA. Shuffled off eventually!
