Birds and planes and crashes.

[Trekker4747]

So some birds flew/got sucked into the engines of a US Airways flight last week forcing the pilot to make a remarkable and heroic landing in the Hudson River.

Apparently birds getting pulled into engines of planes is a real problem and various techniques are employed to prevent this from happening.

Wouldn't some kind of heavy-duty tight wiremesh over the intake of the engines prevent a bird -or anything for that matter- from getting pulled in there?

 

[Canadave]

Well, yes, but it would probably also restrict airflow into the engine, as well as change the aerodynamic profile of the engine, I would think.

 

[Trekker4747]

Well, yes, but it would probably also restrict airflow into the engine, as well as change the aerodynamic profile of the engine, I would think.

I don't see how even some taut chicken wire would do either of those to any measurable or detrimental effect.

 

[Tim]

Well, yes, but it would probably also restrict airflow into the engine, as well as change the aerodynamic profile of the engine, I would think.

I don't see how even some taut chicken wire would do either of those to any measurable or detrimental effect.

Given the amount of thrust generated, I suspect any reasonably large object (especially many of them, as in the case of the US Air flight) would simply crash through the screen on its way to getting sucked into the engine.

 

[Trekker4747]

Well, yes, but it would probably also restrict airflow into the engine, as well as change the aerodynamic profile of the engine, I would think.

I don't see how even some taut chicken wire would do either of those to any measurable or detrimental effect.

Given the amount of thrust generated, I suspect any reasonably large object (especially many of them, as in the case of the US Air flight) would simply crash through the screen on its way to getting sucked into the engine.

What about some stiff rods spaced, say, 2inches apart in a grid-pattern? Something robust and fairly sturdy? I mean, yeah something weak like chicken-wire isn't going to cut it but maybe it'd be something worth tryng with heavy-duty (but obviously light weight) rods? (Not in practicality at first, obviously, but in wind tunnels/tests.)

It wouldn't have to be a tight grid just a small enough that it could preclude a bird from getting in there.

 

[Canadave]

Well, yes, but it would probably also restrict airflow into the engine, as well as change the aerodynamic profile of the engine, I would think.

I don't see how even some taut chicken wire would do either of those to any measurable or detrimental effect.

Given the amount of thrust generated, I suspect any reasonably large object (especially many of them, as in the case of the US Air flight) would simply crash through the screen on its way to getting sucked into the engine.

Exactly. And anything sturdy enough to do so would probably severely affect the engine's performance. Jet engines generate thousands of pounds of thrust, and that requires some pretty intense intake.

 

[jkladis]

I saw discussion of this once. The bird(s) will just shatter and continue on. The mass will still be isolated enough to potentially throw a fan blade.

And if this mesh is heavy and/or fine enough, its failure from some severe impact would result in a much more ugly ingestion.

Then there's the issue of ice, and as mentioned above disruted airflow. A certain amount of vortex is needed.

 

[tharpdevenport]

The answer is obvious: we need to retrofit all active planes with self-targetting & scanning granade sized missles that, once locked on, fire and destroy the bird before impact.

 

[Trekker4747]

Bird countermeasures! They can scatter out pieces of stale bread crumbs!

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Bird countermeasures! They can scatter out pieces of stale bread crumbs!

I love it! Let's get on this!

 

[Lindley]

I've come probably within 15 feet of a bird in a Cessna 172 a few times.

 

[Captain Ice]

I saw discussion of this once. The bird(s) will just shatter and continue on. The mass will still be isolated enough to potentially throw a fan blade.

And if this mesh is heavy and/or fine enough, its failure from some severe impact would result in a much more ugly ingestion.

Then there's the issue of ice, and as mentioned above disruted airflow. A certain amount of vortex is needed.

Not to mention what would happen if a piece of that mesh broke off for some reason and went through the engine itself. Metal fatigue is an issue in airplanes and has caused jet airliners to crash in the past.

 

[Omnius]

I've come probably within 15 feet of a bird in a Cessna 172 a few times.

Not this close :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgXkRgkHUk0&hl

757 Birdstrike:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3jiex_boeing-757-bird-strike_fun

F-16 Jet birdstrike:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc-XiO4ojzk&hl

 

[Amaris]

I've come probably within 15 feet of a bird in a Cessna 172 a few times.

As someone who someday wants to have a pilot's license, what do you do if a bird does hit the engine?


J.

 

[Deckerd]

The same thing you do if the engine fails for any other reason.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Perhaps if we meet with the leaders of the Birds we can come to some sort of understanding and put a stop to these suicidal attacks.

 

[Deckerd]

Who's the flying mod? Or has he retired now?

 

[Amaris]

The same thing you do if the engine fails for any other reason.

Crap my pants and pray that I land in a marshmallow factory?


J.

 

[Rii]

The bird doesn't have to hit the engine to bring the aircraft down. USAF lost a B-1B (incl. several crew fatalities) to a pelican a few years back I believe.

 

[trekkerguy]

Well considering a UFO brought it down I'm not sure what all this talk of "Birds" is about.