Inflight Entertainment => There I was... => Topic started by: undatc on December 05, 2006, 08:56:41 PM
Title: So there I was...
Post by: undatc on December 05, 2006, 08:56:41 PM
Me and my buddy had rented an old Arrow out of the local FBO here at KGFK and took it down to Fargo to burn some fuel off for the next days trip, dont ask us why we didnt just dump it, but flying for two hours seemed like moee fun.
So we get back into GFK and we are in the downwind for 17R when we hear a UND warrior call up, (and I quote word for word)
"Uhhhhh tower.... we just hit... a deer."
The tower calls back, you can hear the muffeled laughing in his voice, "What? Say again Sioux 56?"
"We hit a deer...."
The only thing I can think about at the moment is Bill Engvalls sketch where he calls his wife and tells them they hit a deer, and she asks, "well were you flying?"
So the plane taxis off and limps back to the ramp, turns out the kid was on a night solo, and did a touch and go, and on roll out struck the deer as he was lifting off. It damaged his left wing, and the landing gear strut.
What amazes me is that one, he didnt prop stirke the plane (mad props to you dude for being a good pilot there) but two, you just hit something and dont know the condition of a 100k plane you dont own, and you taxi it back to the ramp, possiably causing more damage to it, (bad pilot).
Oh yea, the deer is still at large.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on December 05, 2006, 09:04:41 PM
I'm impressed he didn't roll the plane into a little ball.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Zaffex on December 05, 2006, 09:42:22 PM
You mean the deer survived??
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Frank N. O. on December 05, 2006, 09:44:52 PM
"... santa was making one last round." The version I heard had him say that at the end of the story, where his wife said: Oh my god were you on the ground? (all shocked).
At least there wasn't as much damage/injury as in the Engvall story (wrecked plane and dead deer).
Frank
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Baradium on December 05, 2006, 10:19:16 PM
The local FBO based flight school at Murfreesboro (TN) lost a cherokee to a deer about 2 years ago. Totaled the airframe. Deer ran ran behind the prop and hit the side of the cowling on rollout. Bent the firewall. Airplane didn't actually look that bad, but was totaled... deer walked away.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Frank N. O. on December 05, 2006, 10:22:15 PM
O...K... Either Pipers are really weak bits of kit (english term for equipment) or deers in America are a lot tougher than here.
Frank
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Thunder Eagle on December 05, 2006, 10:48:38 PM
O...K... Either Pipers are really weak bits of kit (english term for equipment) or deers in America are a lot tougher than here.
Frank
Are you serious? Hitting a deer in America (I'd guess anywhere) is a serious matter. People total their cars and even get killed by striking a deer. And often the deer is relatively unharmed. Maybe you're thinking of a Jackalope? ;)
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Baradium on December 05, 2006, 11:17:06 PM
Are you serious? Hitting a deer in America (I'd guess anywhere) is a serious matter. People total their cars and even get killed by striking a deer. And often the deer is relatively unharmed. Maybe you're thinking of a Jackalope? ;)
I think the European deer are much smaller. Up here we also have to worry about moose... ;)
I do have to differ in that when people get killed or total cars, usually the deer isn't all that great off either.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Frank N. O. on December 05, 2006, 11:22:54 PM
Ok I'd better find a picture of a deer to make sure I'm thinking of the right animal. A moose is serious but they're not in DK, except for a illegal immigrant from Sweden that swam the sound lol. There a few skinny 4-legged things with long necks that are here in DK but even though they something you should always avoid hitting then it was just reading that a plane got totally by it, and it walked away just doesn't sound right. If you hit what I think is called a deer in DK and you car looses more than a bumper or headlight then that animal will most likely be seriously hurt but as said, maybe they are smaller here, or even more likely, I don't know quite know what I'm talking about.
Frank
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Baradium on December 05, 2006, 11:30:40 PM
Sometimes it just has to do with how the impact is. If it hits in just the right spot and all. As far as cars, again it depends on how you hit them. Usually if you're going to total something the deer is going to have issues too, but not always.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: switchtech on December 06, 2006, 01:25:54 AM
Here's the wiki for the typical deer found here in the States:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_Deer
jbs
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: BrianGMFS on December 06, 2006, 02:31:31 AM
One of the Local FBO owners hit one on landing with the prop.... Vennison for dinner and an overhaul for the prop and engine.... Oh, did I mention that the aircraft was returning from having the engine overhauled??? DOH!!!!
Brian
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on December 06, 2006, 05:39:26 PM
One of the Local FBO owners hit one on landing with the prop.... Vennison for dinner and an overhaul for the prop and engine.... Oh, did I mention that the aircraft was returning from having the engine overhauled??? DOH!!!!
Brian
Yay for insurance.
Frank, the typical white-tail deer weighs as much as an adult human. When they come onto the road at full speed, they tend to do a lot of damage, especially if you're going 60 MPH. I hit one with a minivan once. Smashed the bumper, right headlight, grill, and put a hole in the radiator. Killed the deer, but she was still in pretty good shape, considering. I was actually lucky the airbags didn't deploy, otherwise I would have been in the ditch.
Most cars in America will survive a deer crash with repairable damage. It's moose you have to watch out for. As far as I know, the only car that is designed to survive a moose is the Volvo.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Frank N. O. on December 06, 2006, 06:17:41 PM
Ah, I see I didn't really knew what I was talking about, the deers I saw, called dadyr in danish, are the small whitetail ones that only look the size of a Stor Dansker (Great Dane dog), but I thank you for supplying me with good information for me to learn from |:)\
Btw, the original SAAB (Svenska Aeroplan Aktie Bolag) also made cars with pipes in the A-pillars so the cabin and thus the inhabitants could survive the torso of a moose ramming the windshield due to it's long legs would have the torso over the front of the car. This was the original 900-model from the 80s, not sure what the GM-based later model 900 and 9-3 etc. are made to withstand, I honestly don't think there's much SAAB left in those cars, and the 9-2 and 9-7X were just insults, the 9-2 also for Subaru.
There are signs here warning about possible high risk areas for animal traffic over roads and it pictures a deer but no-one slows down there, not even down to the speedlimit (80% of all danish drivers speed, always, and I can sadly confirm this in person, and they're not paying attention either).
Aren't there fences around the landing areas in north american airports btw? There are here in DK (all nine of them) but maybe it's impossible/useless/too expensive in the many smaller airports in NA?
Frank
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: fireflyr on December 06, 2006, 06:43:24 PM
Maybe thats what the NWA guys serve on their flights now..
You'll find it in Wilkerson under the guise of "Prime Rib."
Frank, there are signs for deer here, as well (and the occasional moose crossing), but I never slow down. I'm just more vigilent in those areas. Living in Minnesota my whole life, I'm surprised I've only hit one deer. The one I did hit, I didn't see because she was still in the ditch as I came near her. She figured she could beat me, kind of like playing chicken with a train.
Most of the small airports can't afford fencing around the whole airport. I think Baudette spent 500K on a "security fence" and it only covers about half the ramp.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Baradium on December 08, 2006, 06:33:17 AM
At Murfreesboro, the Deer would jump the tall fence anyway, so it didn't matter if it was all fenced. It's amazing exactly what it takes to stop a deer from jumping.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: fireflyr on December 08, 2006, 05:28:20 PM
At Murfreesboro, the Deer would jump the tall fence anyway, so it didn't matter if it was all fenced. It's amazing exactly what it takes to stop a deer from jumping.
I've managed to stop a few with as little as 55 grains of lead (delivered at a couple thousand feet per second) ;) Seriously though, I've heard of deer clearing a 6 foot fence with a couple of feet to spare---must take at least 8 feet to deter the little beggars ???
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Baradium on December 09, 2006, 09:30:02 PM
At Murfreesboro, the Deer would jump the tall fence anyway, so it didn't matter if it was all fenced. It's amazing exactly what it takes to stop a deer from jumping.
I've managed to stop a few with as little as 55 grains of lead (delivered at a couple thousand feet per second) ;) Seriously though, I've heard of deer clearing a 6 foot fence with a couple of feet to spare---must take at least 8 feet to deter the little beggars ???
I think the tall fence is 8 ft actually. I know it's taller than me and I'm 6'2 ;)
I think it takes a 10 ft fence. I've seen where deer are kept in captivity and they use 10 or 12 ft fencing.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on December 11, 2006, 06:33:59 PM
We're allowed to shoot deer year round at the airport. During hunting season this fall, we took 10 deer off the field.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: TheSoccerMom on January 23, 2007, 12:46:41 AM
Hey, I fell off my memory-meds and so can't remember... have I told you the badger story? ::type::
While taking off in a Champ, once the tail came up, I could see a vague blob way up ahead on the paved runway. I thought, "Dang! It's a coyote!" but also calculated that I'd be well off the ground by the time I got there, so kept flying. As I closed on the "thing", I couldn't tell what it was, but it wasn't moving, so I thought maybe it was something dead.
I'd been flying for a while but held the little Champ down, right over the centerline, so I could see what this was, so I would know what to tell the tower to scrape off the runway. Imagine my great surprise when I came right up on the brown blob, and it suddenly whirled, stood up on its hind legs, and clawed at me and the airplane as we passed right over its fierce little head -- it was a BADGER!
And he was going to take on that Champ, and WIN. :o
Talk about fearless!
I always figured he went back to his burrow and told all his buddies, and they all had a good laugh. ::rofl::
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Turbomallard on January 23, 2007, 01:14:32 AM
One time when I had my Arrow hangared at a small field 40 miles from home while waiting to get a hangar at my home field, I was putzing around one evening and was the only one at the airport... at least, the only human. A ground squirrel scampered across the ramp just outside, walking the width of the open hangar door. All of a sudden he stopped as he seemed to realize the door was open, turned, and looked inside. I could see him looking around, seemingly fascinated at being able to see in there for the first time. He sat there for a couple of minutes, occasionally sniffing in curiosity, then went home. I always had the idea that he got home from work late, with his spouse demanding to know where he had been. Upon hearing his story about seeing one of the strange metal birds that were always buzzing around on the ground in an open "nest," she probably accused him of stopping for a few ground squirrel beers with his buddies and making up a story.
Then there is our APC here at BMI. APC= Air Port Coyote. He's been here a long time and knows not to get in the way of airplanes, but he does like to watch them. We all know him here. One evening while I was taxiing out a somewhat concerned Mesaba crew, also taxiing, told ground there was a coyote next to the taxiway watching airplanes. Ground told them not to worry. Mesaba then called in a more concerned voice saying the coyote had just crossed the taxiway. Tower simply said "roger." I couldn't stand it, and keyed the mic. "Mesaba 123, caution wake turbulence behind departing coyote." I don't think they were amused.
TM
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: TheSoccerMom on January 23, 2007, 01:19:49 AM
HA HA, that's a good one. Coyotes are smart enough to not get caught, it seems.. at least all the ones I've seen.
I LIKE your call to Mesaba... I would have laughed!! ::bow::
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Gulfstream Driver on January 23, 2007, 08:25:05 PM
I don't think Mesaba pilots have much of a sense of humor anymore.
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Turbomallard on January 23, 2007, 09:39:12 PM
MONEY!!!---For flying an airplane???? Now, who thought that up for Pete's sake??? Next thing ya know, somebody's gonna start a rumor that you make a living at flying ::loony::
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: TheSoccerMom on January 24, 2007, 11:28:36 PM
Boy, I sure hope someday I can make a living at flying!!!! Wouldn't THAT be cool?!!?
(Psssssssttt -- What's the secret, anyway?) ::thinking::
Title: Re: So there I was...
Post by: Mike on January 25, 2007, 12:00:15 AM
