Ever Almost Hit a Big Old Bird??

[MikeB]

I took time out to change the oil on my Champ today and, of course, I had to take a ride around afterwards . Climbed to altitude about 2000 msl and spied a big eagle circling around ahead of and above me. I was just turning out of his way when he made a big swoop towards me and probably cleared my wing by about 25 feet......close enough to really get my attention. There are a lot of eagles around the airport but this is the first time I've seen one that up close and personal. When we land on runway 9 we approach over a lake so I always look for ducks and geese especially during migrating season.

I hit a turkey buzzard once in Texas with a rental car. Sure wouldn't want to hit one with a Champ.

Mike

[boris48]

I was about 2500 agl when I spied a bald eagle approach. He descended and I followed. We made several turns while desending and he had an eye on me the whole way down. He stayed about 50 ft. below my wingtip all the way!! Wish i would have had a camera.

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Luckily no contact yet, but did have a buzzard go between the struts and wing!

I did take out a flock of starlings with the Chipmunk while climbing out; Prop, windshield, left and right wings. Of the 4 known impacts, only the left wing displayed damage. Apparently I smacked him square because the leading edge was flattened out.

1lb @ 90mph..... I'd hate to see what 15lbs @ 80mph would do.

nkh

[WWhunter]

Many close calls with Eagles and buzzards. Mostly Eagles though as I fly floats all summer and northern MN is FULL of Eagles. For some damned reason they are attracted to aircraft. Maybe they think I am after 'their" fish. I have cruised along above the treetops and have had them stay right beside me for quite a distance. I think they are trying to see if I am as happy as they are up there floating around.
WW

[drjeff]

I center punched an owl on short final one night while flying the Cherokee. I must have hit him with the prop because I had blood, guts and feathers all over the cowling and windshield........

[james gevay]

Sure, I've hit a few over the years but nothing too big or directly right on.
Once, years ago in an Aztec at night I had a sense of something about the left engine. When I got on the ground I found blood and feathers on the prop and cowling.

Another time at 4000' and doing 250kts over Minneapolis we took a duck right down the right side of the fuselage of an Astra. It hit on the side of the nose and went into the right wing root landing light and took that out. It made a dent on the side of the fuselage and the lens fragments left some nicks under the engine cowling.

The ones I worry about are the Vultures down in Florida around the airports.

[CptKelly]

I hit a really large hard shelled bug over Vietnam, at 20,000 feet. It really made a mess all over the windshield. I never knew bugs flew that high.

Mike