Birdstrike on the M56!
 

This is only tangentially related to aviation matters but just the other day I was on my way to Manchester Airport on the M56 when I hit a pigeon. It scared the !!!!! out of me but it didn't even leave a mark on the windscreen! Now I thought this was a bit strange because at the University where I used to work we had some large windows that small songbirds used to fly into on a regular basis. These windows were usually covered in greasy bird-shaped marks recording each incident, and had some really messy areas where the poor little chaps had clearly popped on impact.

So here’s my question? Why is it that a tiny songbird can hit a stationary building and smash itself to a pulp flying under it’s own steam, but a fat pigeon hit by a Vauxhall Astra travelling at 70mph doesn’t leave a mark?

My deepest sympathies to the pigeon.
Of all the things to get hit by, a Vauxhall Astra......
I take it it must have been the downhill section near Lymm.

It could have been one of those really 'ard Wythenshawe pigeons! :)

Are you sure it was not a swallow??

Why is it that a tiny songbird can hit a stationary building and smash itself to a pulp flying under it’s own steam, but a fat pigeon hit by a Vauxhall Astra travelling at 70mph doesn’t leave a mark?


i) You presumably did not see the state of the pigeon, post-impact. Its health might have been impaired.
ii) Seriously sloped windscreen on Vauxhall.
iii) Pigeon: circa 300 grams. Vauxhall circa 1 tonne.
iv) Duck: circa 1500 grams. Aeroplane circa 175 tonnes.

In (iv) above, if duck enters engine, aeroplane has problem.

I hope that this will help.

As for the state of the pigeon post-impact - apparently the little chap has made a posting on the other PPRuNe (Professional Pigeons Rumour Network) where he boasted that he survived an "Astra-Strike" without compromising his airworthiness. This would seem to confirm cossack’s suggestion that this was in fact one well hard little aviator.

Course, it could 'ave been an African Swallow...

but they ain't migrate-ory :)

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...proceeding below Decision Height with CAUTION...

[This message has been edited by AffirmBrest (edited 25 April 2001).]

We all must be really bored to discuss and read that topic...

Hey Burger thingie, it is comments like yours that prove the point why this forum shouldn't be restricted only to pilots. If it wasn't for the wit in some of the replies above we'd all be wishing we were that pidgeon after listening to your probably boring diatribes. A little bit of variety uh?

Silkman, Cossack and Stagger, wonderful wit. Keep it up. Had me in stiches.

[This message has been edited by OzDude (edited 26 April 2001).]

Nothing like the stitches inflicted on the pigeon post-Astra. Talk about "per ardua ad Astra". I had a brief talk in pidgin English afterwards with the victim and from the bird's rasping comments I suspect, Stagger, you were not adhering to the 70 limit.

He's very lucky he wasn't grilled.

Nearly had an accident earlier whilst on the M56 when i realised i had just gone past an Astra.Busy looking in the rear view mirror for tell tale signs of impact damage to the Astra.Stagger, is your Astra Silver with red splashes by any chance ?

What was the last thing that went through the pigeon's brain when it hit the windscreen of said Astra ...... its arse!

Used to know someone who claimed that the had a duck fly under his car, without apparent damage to either (duck seen flying after with a surprised expression

broadreach If necessary I can call upon a mechanic who will testify than my Astra isn't capable of exceeding the speed limit - except when it's taking a ride on the back of an AA truck.

Read in "Pigeons Woldwide Daily", that TCAAS will soon be required as a retrofit for pigeons.

According to said source, TCAAS stands for Terminal Contact Astra Avoidance System, no mention as to compliance date.

If any further info becomes available, I will post it here.

Don't know about TCAAS on pigeons, but Mycroft's story would seem to suggest that some ducks are already RVSM compliant.

There has been a new development in the pigeon saga. In a letter in this Wednesday's edition of The Guardian, a reader wrote...

"As I left the M56 at approximately 60mph this week, I was shocked to be overtaken by two pigeons. Up until now, I had been completely unaware that pigeons were capable of such a speed."

So it would seem that, post-impact, not only is my feathered friend alive and flapping - but it looks like he's back to his old ways playing in the traffic and humiliating car drivers.

The reason that he left no mark on my windscreen is now clear - the closing speed was probably minimal. I must have just caught up with him briefly as he slowed between flaps.

Pigeons?? are you sure it wasn't young scallys playing chicken.

Ooh dear, sorry.

regards



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Half man, Half jalfrezi.

Stagger,

Are you sure that there was no brown stuff (ie.pigeon **** ;)) on your car? If I had a near miss or a slight coming together at that kind of speed I'd sure be dropping the brown stuff real quick :). May of lightend said pigeons' load enough allow it to take enough evasive menouvers to avoid serious injury. :) :) :)

OzPax1 http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif


[This message has been edited by OzPax1 (edited 18 May 2001).]

Sorry, did you say something?
I don't remember having been on M56?