I've seen cockpits and radar domes of low level B-52s after such an
encounter.. not a pretty sight.. and luckily not me.
Large migrating birds do tend to dive when approached or surprised.. it's
the fastest escape they know.

Large soaring raptors just tend to look funny at you as you sneak up on them
(in a glider) and give you the once over,, are you a threat or a meal.. I've
also seen them tuck and dive when approached from a front aspect. Never get
under a bird.

I did have a streak down the side of the cockpit and fuselage one night on
the ILS. He left an oil streak and a few feathers, the DNA said Snow Owl..
we think he survived but he really spooked the co-pilot when he went by.

I've also seen soaring raptors just miss the cockpit at FL200, and I did not
see any O2 mask.

A B-1 was downed by a migrating brown pelican about 1000ft AGL in Colorado,
September 1987. They estimated the bird's weight at 15 to 20 pounds. (based
on the average size of the migrating flock in the area)

BT

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
We did a beautiful leaf-peeping flight up the Mississippi River to
LaCrosse, WI (KLSE) today. Our recent spate of high winds and heavy
rains had torn many of the leaves down before they could reach their
prime, but tbe golds and reds along the bluffs that line the shoreline
were still breath-taking.

Tooling along at 3500 feet just south of Prairie du Chein (KPDC) we
had our first bird encounter -- a huge flock of Canadian Geese flying
down-river ABOVE us. The sight of those beautful birds migrating en
masse to warmer climes was fantastic, but certainly gave one pause, as
we considered what each one weighed.

Our second encounter was just a few minutes later, when a V-formation
passed beneath us. and we again pondered what might happen should we
run into one of those flocks. We also noted that the geese looked
black from below, but white from above...

The third encounter occurred as we were coming into land on Rwy 36 in
LaCrosse. Three miles out and a quick blur out of the corner of my
eye. I turned my head long enough to see another V-formation whiz by
1/4 mile off our right wing.

After a nice day in LaCrosse we were again on the look-out for the
birds as we headed down-river toward home. With the strong northerly
winds aloft, we were doing over 175 knots ground speed. At that
speed we (and they) wouldn't have much time to "see and avoid", so we
decided to ignore the pretty colors and climb high, hopefully above
their preferred altitudes.

I have heard that birds, when confronted with airplanes, will
invariable *dive* to avoid us. Is this one of those "old pilot's
tales", or is it true?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"