This was a 'close one' to loosing an F-111 aircraft..!

[River]

This serious incident occurred back on April 20th 2008 and went very close to bring down the aircraft.

 

The F-111 was flying at 900m (approx. 3000ft) on a test bombing raid over Evans Head, in northern NSW, when a pelican struck the fiberglass nose and smashed the radome before being sucked into an engine. Its impact smashed the plane's ray-dome before causing an immediate engine failure!

 

Aviation experts said flying the plane would have been extremely difficult because the whole aircraft would have been unstable. A RAAF spokesman admitted the 30-minute flight path back to Amberley, 50km west of Brisbane, was over built-up areas with "One engine was working fine, while the other was at reduced power."

 

From memory I understand that immediately after the bird impact, both engines failed. The pilot instantly put the aircraft in a climb to gain as much height as possible and then considered if an ejection and a change of underwear as required.

 

As the was ‘some height’ the pilot attempted a re-start of both engines, one engine re-started with reasonable power though the other engine was seriously crook.

 

The crew then conducted a flight controllability and upon believing they were able to handle the seriously damaged aircraft opted to return the Amberley at reduced power, etc and made a successful landing back at Amberley.

 

Not a bad feat as Evans Head to Amberley direct is approx. some 185 kms.

 

[ATTACH]10548[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]10549[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]10550[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]10551[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]10552[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]10553[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]10554[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]10555[/ATTACH]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

They were lucky. a previous pelican/ F111 encounter north of Williamtown resulted in loss of aircraft and crew.

 

 

[motzartmerv]

Strewth!!!!

 

 

[facthunter]

Pelicans.

 

Dodge them, if possible, in any size aircraft. Coolangatta used to be one of the worst places I found. . Birds are a serious threat to aircraft.. Keep a good look out. In Victoria the wedge tailed eagles seem to be increasing in numbers. Good from an environmental point, but.....Nev

 

 

[dazza 38]

Nice photos Rodger. As Ossie has mentioned, its happened before and will happen again.Unfortunately

 

 

[Deskpilot]

Nice photos Rodger. As Ossie has mentioned, its happened before and will happen again.Unfortunately

Don't think so. All F111's are grounded, aren't they?

 

Looking at all those f/glass fibres make one wonder if there was sufficient epoxy used in it's creation.

 

 

[Guest Andys@coffs]

In my time at Amberley I saw 2 radomes do that. In fact the worst one lost the pitot probe at the front and all the fibres then opened up like an umbrella. One of them was due to a large eagle with a Rabbit in its talons. I seem to recall the other was a flying fox.... When a military Aircraft is designed to do it its fighting at some altitude between 200ft and 1000ft above ground level then bird strikes arent exactly rare.

 

Andy

 

P.S what do you think your chances of seeing and avoiding a pelican would be if you were doing Mach at 200ft..... That said, perhaps it was just co-incidence that it hit on the Nav's side.

 

P.P.S I wonder if way back one of the design criteria for the radome was, engine must be able to eat it with no ill effects!

 

P.P.P.S if short of something to do check this out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_Cannon

 

 

[flying dog]

Sorry to be a "wet blanket" but this is 18+ months ago.

 

 

[dazza 38]

Don't think so. All F111's are grounded, aren't they? Looking at all those f/glass fibres make one wonder if there was sufficient epoxy used in it's creation.

Im not talking just about F111's, im talking about aircraft in general.Even though this thread is about the F111 which are now retired.Birds do not discriminate which A/c in particular they collide with.

 

 

[Guest ozzie]

And you don't have to be going fast. A Lazair pilot in the US hit a Goose at 1500 ft, head on, smack on the leading edge. he said he heard one bang and looked at the wing as there was a second bang when the spar folded just outboard the strut. quickly followed by a third as he fired off the BRS. short short canopy ride then "landed". broke an ankle. lazair cruise at 40mph. wonder what a goose cruises at? same maybe bit more. weigh? 15kg say. be like getting hit by a cannonball.

 

 

[Spin]

Im not talking just about F111's, im talking about aircraft in general.Even though this thread is about the F111 which are now retired.Birds do not discriminate which A/c in particular they collide with.

Yeah, just ask the Princess of darkness:laugh: