March 29, 2024 - Chuck's Bird Strike
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| Chuck was approaching Essex Skypark from the south when he encountered a flock of large birds, type unknown. He tried to maneuver clear but .... |
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BAM! A bird slammed into the outboard leading edge of his left wing.
Chuck had his Insta360 video camera running which took these amazing shots.
The plane was moving fast and the plane pitched down a couple of times. When Chuck reduced power, he gained much better control of the aircraft, and was able to do a straight-in approach to Essex Skypark.
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| Less than two minutes later Chuck was on the ground at Essex Skypark. The wheel pant was damaged from a collision with a runway light. |
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The leading edge was seriously bent.
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| Happy to be on the ground to tell the tale! |
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| The remnants of the outboard leading edge and five ribs. |
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Within 24 hours, the outboard leading edge and damaged ribs were removed. The inboard leading edge -- the fuel tank -- was undamaged but was removed to make it easier to rivet on a new outboard leading edge. The main spar was undamaged, thankfully. The wingtip was also undamaged.
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| The Bird. |
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This is the original rib.
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The wing from below.
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| Three weeks later, a new outboard leading edge and five ribs were on hand, shipped from Vans Aircraft Company. Here, Chuck is clecoing the new ribs to the spar. |
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| Chuck and Mark cleco the leading edge to the ribs and spar. |
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| Charlie and Mark riveting the ribs to the spar. Not an easy task! |
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| With the ribs riveted to the spar, the leading edge bottom is clecoed to the ribs. |
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| Charlie and Mark rivet the leading edge to the ribs and spar. Mark's pretty happy about it. |
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| And it's all done! Soon the RV-7A will fly like a bird! |
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