fatmal Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Researchers show what can happen when a drone collides with an airplane Uni of Dayton 'fired' a drone at flying speed at a static Mooney M20 wing - damage was significant, including to the spar. mal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeliPilot70 Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Here is a more complete version of the video: Speed of impact was 238mph 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdseye Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 I'd be interested to see it done in a real environment, i.e. with air flowing over the wing at real speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mewp Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 This test was on a mooney wing, I would expect much greater damage to an LSA aircraft even though it would fly at about half the speed given the lighter materials used. Also LSA and recreational A/C usually fly at lower altitudes than the mooney in cruise. Pity any pilot with an open cockpit at any speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Koreelah Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 ... Pity any pilot with an open cockpit at any speed. Another reason to use polycarbonate for the front window. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 The impact damage would be much the same but it's possible the wing could open up or distort due airflow dynamic forces, where the wing is moving through the air .In any case the actual potential would be more as the component is already structurally loaded and an impact force will normally add to it... I would be worried about windscreens lift struts and cables, control cables fabric opening up etc. The faster planes will suffer more as it's a V squared equation. I've seen actual strikes where the bird went 1/2 way to the trailing edge an a Cessna 180. It's surprising it didn't come off. The main species involved back then was the wedgetail eagle but I've dodged pelicans, frigate birds and hit plenty of seagulls. The main risk to the larger planes is windsceeen and engine ingestion. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man emu Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 I've dodged pelicans, frigate birds and hit plenty of seagulls.. Nev You can avoid those types of birdstrikes by not flying so low over nude beaches. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Perhaps if it's relevant to your operation. The pelicans, Coolangatta airport .The seagulls Kingsford Smith (Sydney). The Frigate Birds Christmas Island. The reason for being low? Trying to touch down on the appropriate part of the runway. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cscotthendry Posted October 19, 2018 Share Posted October 19, 2018 Something that wasn't mentioned was the possibility of the drone's Lion battery catching fire inside the wing after impact. If that happened with the fuel in the wing, I'm reasonably sure the aircraft would not survive long enough to land. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLA82 Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 Biggest lot of Sh...t I’ve seen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkennard Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 Biggest lot of Sh...t I’ve seen Would be nice if you explained why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
facthunter Posted October 20, 2018 Share Posted October 20, 2018 The inefficiency of the method of getting lift must be a limiting factor. A helicopter is a "rotary wing " whereas these are just upward thrusters vectored by tilting. (This one sat and may be well out of context.) sent anyhow. Nev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSCBD Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 You can avoid those types of birdstrikes by not flying so low over nude beaches. Usually the drones are above me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacesailor Posted October 22, 2018 Share Posted October 22, 2018 I don't know the speed of a Mooney. Most drones I've watched are almost stationery. Mooney's must fly at 225 MPH. Hummel bird's only 140 MPH spacesailor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieselten Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Repeat the test in a wind-tunnel with the airflow over the wing at normal cruising-speed for a better test of a real-world situation. Either way I think there will be significant wing-damage. As for the drone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironpot Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 Overheard last week “ ... just had a drone 50 ft off my port wing at 6500”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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