This is a common problem the USAF has been dealing with forever. We found that nothing works 100%. But....making the airport and immediate vicinity habitat unfriendly helped! How? We tried a number methods; and most failed. One way that seemed to work was to simply deny them food by eliminating any 'refuse piles nearby. We also allowed selected, and well trained, hunters on the Base to bird-shoot. We also had some luck with allowing local Falconeers (this was in the U.K.) to hunt on Base with their trained Falcons. But in the end it's a problem still seeking a solution! I once took a large buzzard hit in the intake of my F-4; and it took out the engine! We also had a guy that took a hit directly on the cockpit canopy and the bird ended up inside causing near blindness and severe injury. Of course no one can forget Capt Sullenberger and his landing in the Potomac.

(Written on 2017年08月26日)(Permalink)

Intiendo absolutamente!! "Been there done that" Cheers...JFT

(Written on 2017年08月08日)(Permalink)

Yep Stefan;you're so right! Mine was only a Piper PA-28. And although I got it at a bargain price; between the insurance, hangar,maintenance, annuals etc.,the fixed expenses just became ridiculous. An old IP once told me never,never,ever own an airplane unless your in a business where it pays it's own way. Lesson learned; the hard way!:)

(Written on 2017年08月05日)(Permalink)

Certainly!

(Written on 2017年05月05日)(Permalink)

I'm talking about Lowery w/short RWs and very dense population even back then; not Colorado Springs.

(Written on 2017年03月28日)(Permalink)

And which series of F-105 did you fly cowboy!!

(Written on 2017年03月27日)(Permalink)

Oh yes. Back in the day we had an F-105 emerg land at the old Lowry airfield in the high-summer. Temp wouldn't allow us to fly it out 'til winter.

(Written on 2017年03月25日)(Permalink)

Even more-so than TCAS.....what about ATC?

(Written on 2016年10月24日)(Permalink)

Very dangerous stuff. The low pres area vicinity lifting surfaces of large aircraft can be lethal to smaller a/c. Years ago a "chase" F-104 in formation w/a test USAF supersonic proto-type bomber was sucked in destroying both.

(Written on 2016年10月21日)(Permalink)

Oh yes, the MITO was necessary at the time and truly spectacular; also dangerous as hell! But then some SAC big-wig decided we needed a "night" MITO; now that was really spectacular!! I was always amazed that the crews made it work; and w/few accidents! That's right! It was SAC B-52 crew/cockpit integrity (from brake-release back to chocks; NO small talk!), religious use of check-off lists, and constant training that set the standard still copied today by all major air-carriers!!

(Written on 2016年09月23日)(Permalink)