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Long-EZ Bird Strike
Pretty incredible story: http://www.ez.org/birdstrike.htm Long-EZ pilot at 9,500 feet hit a bird, which shattered his prop, and the broken prop took off almost all of one winglet. Full aileron was only able to keep the wings level above 110 knots. Landed safely...sounds like a damn fine pilot. Ron Wanttaja |
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Ron Wanttaja wrote:
Pretty incredible story: http://www.ez.org/birdstrike.htm Long-EZ pilot at 9,500 feet hit a bird, which shattered his prop, and the broken prop took off almost all of one winglet. Full aileron was only able to keep the wings level above 110 knots. Landed safely...sounds like a damn fine pilot. Ron Wanttaja Hi Ron, I wonder what the evidence is that it was a bird strike? I don't see any blood and guts anywhere. Of course with a pusher I suppose it could have hit the prop and not left a trace? I hit a bird with the prop of my Pacer one time and it was one nasty mess to clean up, the entire airplane had some kind of mess on it. Regardless I am glad he was able to land safely. Jerry |
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On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:25:53 -0700, Jerry Springer wrote:
Ron Wanttaja wrote: Pretty incredible story: http://www.ez.org/birdstrike.htm Long-EZ pilot at 9,500 feet hit a bird, which shattered his prop, and the broken prop took off almost all of one winglet. Full aileron was only able to keep the wings level above 110 knots. Landed safely...sounds like a damn fine pilot. Ron Wanttaja Hi Ron, I wonder what the evidence is that it was a bird strike? I don't see any blood and guts anywhere. I noticed that, too. Something else could have gone through the blade, but I don't know if a bolt or nut would do this kind of damage. The guy may have cleaned it off already.... Ron Wanttaja |
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"Ron Wanttaja" wrote ...
I noticed that, too. Something else could have gone through the blade, but I don't know if a bolt or nut would do this kind of damage. The guy may have cleaned it off already.... "I heard something and I felt as if I was in a paint mixer. Then the vibration stopped." Looks and sounds like half the prop broke off and the other half shook off. Rich |
#5
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Ron Wanttaja wrote:
On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:25:53 -0700, Jerry Springer wrote: Ron Wanttaja wrote: Pretty incredible story: http://www.ez.org/birdstrike.htm Long-EZ pilot at 9,500 feet hit a bird, which shattered his prop, and the broken prop took off almost all of one winglet. Full aileron was only able to keep the wings level above 110 knots. Landed safely...sounds like a damn fine pilot. Ron Wanttaja Hi Ron, I wonder what the evidence is that it was a bird strike? I don't see any blood and guts anywhere. I noticed that, too. Something else could have gone through the blade, but I don't know if a bolt or nut would do this kind of damage. The guy may have cleaned it off already.... Ron Wanttaja I also wonder about the scratches on the tip of the blade in the white paint area? the prop looks like it may be a ?Bernie Warnke? prop that has Kevlar on the tip. I had one on my RV-6 that had Kevlar on the front tip and about 1/2 of the back side of the prop. I loaned it to the late Bill Benedict to try on his RV-4 and he lost about the same amount of tip on one of the blades. Not both as this one is. He was able to shut down and make a successful landing on a airport without any other damage. There was speculation that the wood was rotten in that area (I had about 500 hours on the prop) or that it was not tracked right when he installed it. He admitted he did not track it. Jerry |
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On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:52:56 -0700, Ron Wanttaja
wrote: Hi Ron, I wonder what the evidence is that it was a bird strike? I don't see any blood and guts anywhere. I noticed that, too. Something else could have gone through the blade, but I don't know if a bolt or nut would do this kind of damage. The guy may have cleaned it off already.... Ron Wanttaja Here's another couple of data points: The prop appears to be made from a solid blank, not laminated from numerous strips. I read a long time ago that the props on the EZ type aircraft run in such turbulence that it's recommended they use wooden props only. The turbulence is unavoidable in that it's the result of the prop passing through the lift created by the trailing edge of the wing. There also may be exhaust pulses to whap through as well. That's why the EZ's have that characteristic buzz when they fly by. In fact all pushers seem to sound that way. Wooden props are supposed to **DAMPEN** vibration. Interestingly, the only part of the information suggesting a bird strike is the title. Nothing in the storyline claims that or suggests it. It certainly isn't impossible for birds to be at 9,500, just a lot less likely than closer to the ground. It isn't migration time... Corky Scott |
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"Corky Scott" wrote Here's another couple of data points: The prop appears to be made from a solid blank, not laminated from numerous strips. I could be wrong, but it looked to me to be made of thin laminations, about 1/8th" thick, instead of fewer thick ones. Like I said, I could be wrong. Anyone know for sure? -- Jim in NC |
#8
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"Morgans" wrote:
I could be wrong, but it looked to me to be made of thin laminations, about 1/8th" thick, instead of fewer thick ones. Like I said, I could be wrong. Anyone know for sure? Yes, those lines are laminations glue lines, not tree rings. Here is a close-up pic from the site, http://www.ez.org/images/prop1.jpg My Ted Hendrickson prop is also made of thin laminations and is, I have always thought, quite beautiful. Ted retired several years ago. Lastly, as a Long EZ builder, owner, and flyer whose experience with EZs dates back to the early Rutan days, my response to the scenario and images depicted can be summed up in two words, Holy ****! David Odum -- email: David at AirplaneZone dot com |
#9
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On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 20:33:38 -0400, David Odum
MyFirstName@AirplaneZone wrote: Lastly, as a Long EZ builder, owner, and flyer whose experience with EZs dates back to the early Rutan days, my response to the scenario and images depicted can be summed up in two words, Holy ****! You weren't aware of why pusher props make more noise than tractor props? See below for the scientific explanation. http://www.pfa.org.uk/pdf_docs/engin..._driven_la.pdf. The relevant part is quoted below: Pusher propellers can be particularly noisy as the turbulence from upstream structure, e.g. The wing, impinge on the outer portions of the blade. The Cessna 337 is particular poor design in this respect. This aeroplane has a tractor propeller in the front and a pusher propeller and the rear of the fuselage. Consequently the turbulence from the front, tractor propeller and the wing and fuselage pass through the rear pusher propeller causing relatively high noise levels. The Long EZ's do not have a tractor prop making turbulence of course, but the wing is generating lift and the exhaust pulses must pass through the prop and this causes vibration. I'm positive I've read other treatsies on the subject, and I'm reasonably sure some of it came from Rutan himself. It doesn't make sense to you that a prop spinning in turbulent air will vibrate? Corky Scott |
#10
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On 2005-06-29 10:50:48 -0400, Corky Scott
said: I read a long time ago that the props on the EZ type aircraft run in such turbulence that it's recommended they use wooden props only. Corky, not questioning what you've read, but didn't Klaus Savier use to make carbon fibre propellers, very hi-po indeed, for Longs? Coupled with a pressure-recovery spinner and cowling of his own design, it was worth quite a few knots. I am working off dim memories here, but ISTR that Klaus had vibration problems with an experimental (in the deepest sense of the word) 3-bladed prop and that he recommended 2-blades only for the EZ series aircraft. Indeed, here's one for sale on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...8722 584&rd=1 If If the link breaks up: http://snipurl.com/fxto Hey, just checked his website and he still does make props: http://lightspeedengineering.com/Tec...ties/Props.htm But they have wood cores. I had thought he made all-compo ones. Guess not. -- cheers -=K=- Rule #1: Don't hit anything big. |
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