Warbird Information Exchange

About ten years ago we were flying over downtown Corpus to generate interest in the Navy airshow and the CAF Corsair hit a large bird (pelican) and we were at legal altitudes. The damage to the Corsair was unbelivable. Thanks to the Navy mechanics it was made feriable and went home without performing in the shaow.

darn,
Nobody is going to stand up for the rights of a pelican?

I like pelicans!

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"Hindsight is usually 20% off!"

Dear jaw-dropped surfer

due much in part to aircraft like the Corsair, and the ballsy men who flew & maintained them, you now have the freedom to surf on a beach without a Japanese soldier shooting you between the eyes.

Think about that as you satiate your surfing-induced hunger on a tender chicken burger or medium-rare steak, and be thankful instead of hyprocritical.

greg v.

Why isn't anybody crying a river for all of the poor pilots who died as a result of birds running into their airplanes? Many pilots have died from such a scenario, but nobody seems to talk much about that!

I've killed probably dozens of birds with my airplanes in my aviation career. Thankfully the most damage was just structural and nothing too life-threatening.

I'd say it's his prerogative to cry over wildlife, no? So that aside, what is he ignorant of, and what makes him a "dumbass" or "stupid?"

Dear Editor,
I have remained quiet, but feel I must speak about about the horrendous outrage I observed the other day while walking along the beach near the ocean. As I was walking, peacefully, I was enjoying the view of two wonderfully restored warbirds playfully frolicking at low level over the surf, their pilots well at ease, and thoroughly enjoying themselves. I had been watching for several seconds when one of these fine aircraft was deliberately and viciously attacked by some sort of water fowl, I believe a Pelican I. This awful bird assaulted the aircraft in such a way that its finish was marred by blood and feathers, and possibly damaged much worse. Why can't these avian hazards restrict themselves to proper areas- such as McDonalds parking lots, and not assault defenseless aircraft in flight? I, for one, am horrified that these assaults take place in this day and age! These pelicans need be warned- Watch out for my friends and I! We know where you live- and your favorite restaurant. We will start a letter writing campaign to have your flying privledges revoked, as well as your fishing permits. Pelicans will no longer be allowed to terrorize poor, innocent aircraft...

Horrified and Appalled,
Robbie Roberts
warbird enthusiast

Thank God that Cow was flying around that day?

Sure, we all have different things to be passionate and touchy-feely about.

The presumption that a pilot would either deliberately try for (or alternatively deliberately risk) a birdstrike (especially pelican size) is ignorant of 'good airmanship' principles. That said, why should anyone, outside aviation, know that?

As Robbie's most amusing post above shows, two different people can see two different flyers in this same picture and see different heroes and villains.

Regards,

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Oh, boo hoo sniff sob waah.

Look, I thought Jonathan Livingston Seagull was profound, too... when I was 13...

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Thanks for the level-headed reply. Most people outside of aviation are ignorant of many aspects of it, as I'm sure most WIXers are probably ignorant about surfing. Does that make us "stupid" or "dumbasses?" No.

Did the guy go a little overboard in his reaction? Sure. But that's neither here nor there as far as grounds to assassinate his character over. And nowhere in the article did I see a presumption that the birdstrike was done on purpose.

Here is your n#.............

thats great!

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Taylor Stevenson

Certainly it is his prerogative to cry over wildlife, not taking that away from him.
What I find obsurd, is the fact that he is attempting to make a vortex out of somthing that is rediculous.
Hey, I'm a sensitive guy, I cried when old Yeller came home,
and cried when he got shot to death,
I was 6 then, and I got over it real quick when I saw a ambulance traveling about 80 MPH clip a dog that attempted to cross the road,
and sent it spinning about a hundred yards up the road on its side.
He was deader than a hammer, but I didn't whine about the ambulance driver hitting the dog.
The guy that witnessed the carnage needs to get a grip and realize that as long as airplanes fly, there will be casualties, human and wildlife, and not make such a fuss about nothing.
I am just glad that the aviator was not injured or killed That is the MOST important thing.

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Kind Regards,
Gary Lewis
J.A.F.O.

LOL Ken!

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Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

Even better, try working with these type of people, everyday!

Yeah, I Love California! No, really, I do!

Well, time to go fire up the Chevelle before they come and take it away from me!