We all know the impact of bird strikes on small aircraft, but when was the last time you saw their effect on something as large as a Boeing 757? Simon Lowe was on hand when a Thomson 757 engine sucked in a bird on take-off a few weeks ago, and he caught the whole thing on video.

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu6zAhONIWw4BkURXNyoA;_ylu...strike_195324-1.html

Don't think the engine ever shut down, just BBQ'd the bird and spit it out. Maybe a couple of minor compressor stalls, but looked like all was well. Not a good time for a bird strike on T.O. Not sure about Thompson's but I believe this was a P&W 2037? Anyway, the engine was shut down, the crew declared a MAYDAY, and the aircraft returned to Manchester Airport where it made a safe emergency landing. Congratulations to the crew for that happy ending. Quite a show!

Video no longer available. You could probably find it on youtube...

I found it on www.youtube.com by using the search function at "B757 bird strike". I didn't post a link because there are several versions from 30 seconds to one with the return of the a/c to the field and a successful landing (with the crash crew all about). The pilots voice was amazingly calm. He must have flown with me back in the 60's when every flight was an emergency...

Hats off to a really professional flight crew and tower/departure guys.

It's a piece of cake if you're smooth in the grove.

quote:

He must have flown with me back in the 60's when every flight was an emergency...

I can relate to that...

jetdrvr, may I ask how you got your start in aviation? To forge a career that finds its way into the front office of a 747 is quite an accomplishment. I'm impressed. I'm very impressed. I wanted to be an airline pilot when I was 19, but poor vision and a complete lack of math skills soon took that idea off my "Things to do" list...

Homebrewer,

Most likely he couldn't find a job as a piano player in the local whore house so he took the next best thing.

quote:

Originally posted by homebrewer:
jetdrvr, may I ask how you got your start in aviation? To forge a career that finds its way into the front office of a 747 is quite an accomplishment. I'm impressed. I'm very impressed. I wanted to be an airline pilot when I was 19, but poor vision and a complete lack of math skills soon took that idea off my "Things to do" list...

I began at age 16 flying Champs. Flew in the Army flying club at Ft. Bragg, then got out and went to Embry Riddle in Miami before they moved to Daytona. Got my ME in a Beech 18, my commercial at Riddle also, and my Instrument with Flight Safety after I got hired by International Paper.
We had a parting of the ways and I moved to Miami again, got a job flying Beech 18's in the Bahamas and lost the sight of my right eye in a car accident in 1966. Got my physical back and flew for every bottom feeding Part 135 outfit that would hire me. Got my ATP in a Beech in Miami while flying 3's and 18's for a common carrier.

Applied to Southern Air Trasnport in 1987, as I had a friend there who gave me a boost. Don Copeland, the Chief pilot, gave me a chance at the heavies and I will owe him for the rest of my life. (There were two one-eyed guys in my new-hire class, me and Lou Tirado, who [I think] is still a 747-400 Captain at Atlas). They hired me as a Herk FO. I moved to the left seat after two years on the right side and flew the Herk all over the world. Bid an FO slot on the 747 and got it, the first and only jet I ever flew. Spent a year learning in the right side and upgraded to captain in 1996. We had a parting of the ways due to union problems. I left in March, '98 and they went bankrupt in September, just as I had predicted.

I was burned out by then, commuting all over the world and living in hotel rooms and African bush camps. Got hired by Air Atlanta Icelandic as a 747 captain but withdrew my application and retired in 1998. That's about it. Haven't taken off or landed an aircraft since March, '98. I miss the Herk flying. It was challenging and adventurous, but the 747 bored me to tears. That may sound arrogant, but it's certainly not meant to be. I was completely tired of long haul freight and constantly doing battle with management.

Every now and then I miss it, but I can't fly anymore, anyway, due to a mild case of emphysema and bad hearing from all those round engines and Herks.

But didn't you ever learn to play piano?

Naw, they had me cleaning the crapper. I played the violin, but you know Mexicans. They aren't into classical.