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NTSB Seeks On-Aircraft Birdstrike Solutions

Ken_gone_flying

"I live vicariously through myself."
pilot
Contributor
This is about as silly as a suggestion I heard recently from a stud to put a parachute (Cirrus style) on all fleet helicopters so we have an alternative in case of transmission/masthead failure.



They make such parachute systems for light aircraft, its really not that far fetched. Granted it would take a hell of a parachute for a 20k + lb helo vs. a 1,500 lb plane.


 

Brett327

Well-Known Member
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Sir, I was agreeing with you. You're exactly right. At 500 knots a birdie is going F-up just about anything you can put in front of it. It just turns into a feathered speeding bullet.

I know, little bro. ;) Just reemphasizing for the non-believers.

Brett
 

Pags

N/A
pilot
I had this conversation with a buddy of mine today... same questions and conclusions. However, I am optimistic about the science of nano fibers, and maybe a cone shaped structured screen (think SR-71) to deflect a bird away rather then stop it may work on commercial airliners. ? So maybe in the near future.

Those cones on an SR-71 served to manage the shock waves around the engines. Anything like that is going to disrupt airflow.

All a screen is going to do is dice the bird into cubes for the engine to eat. Read the ingredients on your slim jim...ever wonder exactly what "mechanically seperated chicken" is?
 

CumminsPilot

VA...not so bad
pilot
Granted it would take a hell of a parachute for a 20k + lb helo vs. a 1,500 lb plane.




Interestingly enough, it has more to do with true airspeed rather than with weight. Yes, weight is a consideration for the actual decent rate after deployment, but getting the thing slowed down enough to deploy is the big issue (obviously not so much on a helo, but on a FW the airspeed is the big driving force).

BRS, the company who makes the parachute for Cirrus and many other aircraft (mainly ultralights, however I spent 3 years working with BRS to implement a chute into the Lancair Evolution), has many different versions of chutes for different weight categories and true airspeeds flown. The chute for a 5000 lb plane weighs nearly 200 lbs itself...that's without any sort of pyro for timed/sequenced deployment of the chute. They have some chutes for dropping cargo in the range of 20k+ lbs, via static line and staged charges, but they are stupid heavy and expensive.

BRS is a good company, and after 3 years they finally changed my thinking about having a parachute on an airplane. I was completely against it for a very, very long time, but that's for another thread. :)
 

Alpha_Echo_606

Does not play well with others!™
Contributor
All a screen is going to do is become more FOD with the bird for the engine to eat. Read the ingredients on your slim jim...ever wonder exactly what "mechanically seperated chicken" is?


Fixed that for you. ;)
 

PerDiem

Look what I can do!!
Let's just paint a big owl face on the front of the planes. Those plastic owls usually do a pretty good job of keeping birds off of buildings.
 

Ken_gone_flying

"I live vicariously through myself."
pilot
Contributor
Let's just paint a big owl face on the front of the planes. Those plastic owls usually do a pretty good job of keeping birds off of buildings.


In the VT-27/28 hangars, they have those plastic owls suspended in the middle of the hangar, by a wire around their neck. If birds are scared of those, they must be retarded, because the owl is in the perched position, hanging from the ceiling. It looks like the owls committed suicide.
 

BENDER

Member
pilot
Those cones on an SR-71 served to manage the shock waves around the engines. Anything like that is going to disrupt airflow.

All a screen is going to do is dice the bird into cubes for the engine to eat. Read the ingredients on your slim jim...ever wonder exactly what "mechanically seperated chicken" is?

I know what the cones are for, I was referring to them for the shape and the way there angled. Your probably right though about the birds, screens just won't work.
 

Flash

SEVAL/ECMO
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
They make such parachute systems for light aircraft, its really not that far fetched. Granted it would take a hell of a parachute for a 20k + lb helo vs. a 1,500 lb plane.


Ummmmm, that is what he said. I believe your picture is of a Cirrus SR22.

This is about as silly as a suggestion I heard recently from a stud to put a parachute (Cirrus style) on all fleet helicopters so we have an alternative in case of transmission/masthead failure.
 

AJTranny

Over to the dark side I go...
pilot
None
Sorry for the jack, but I've always wondered if the chutes have any capability for OCF/inverted attitude, or is it designed for the "oops, out of gas in the goo scenario."
 

picklesuit

Dirty Hinge
pilot
Contributor
What about those deer-whistles? Of course if you are super-sonic than no-go...but it could work, right? :)
 

Gatordev

Well-Known Member
pilot
Site Admin
Contributor
Sorry for the jack, but I've always wondered if the chutes have any capability for OCF/inverted attitude, or is it designed for the "oops, out of gas in the goo scenario."

From what I remember reading a long time ago, it's good for OCF, as well. The scenario they used (and apparently happened) was a high-wing and a low-wing are in the patern, HW above the LW aircraft. Neither can see one another and swap paint. LW (Cirrus) stops flying and starts falling and <poof> out comes the 'chute. Cirrus pilot lives to fight another day.
 
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