Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!husc6!bu-cs!encore!maxzilla!kaufman
From: kaufman@maxzilla.Encore.COM (Lar Kaufman)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: W.S.J. article: army's use of birds
Message-ID: <4119@encore.UUCP>
Date: 7 Nov 88 15:17:05 GMT
References: <56200001@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu>
Sender: news@encore.UUCP
Reply-To: kaufman@maxzilla.UUCP (Lar Kaufman)
Organization: Encore Computer Corp, Marlboro, MA
Lines: 23

In article <56200001@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu> richman@uxe.cso.uiuc.edu writes:

>Did anyone else catch the story in Wed. Nov. 2nd Wall Street
>Journal about the new army helicopter.  Seems that they have
>developed a new helicopter engine which was "tested" by tossing
>live birds into it to insure it wouldn't stall.  Any comments?
>Mike Richman
 
Mike, I didn't read the article, so I cannot comment on the particular
thing you are citing. However, all aircraft engines are tested for
resistance to bird strike damage as part of the FAA certification
process. The tests do not use live birds. In fact, they use
commercially obtained fowl that would have otherwise become someone's
dinner. The birds are fired at the intakes of the turbine engine as it
develops full rated power, using a pneumatic cannon. The engine must
continue to produce a substantial amount of power after ingesting the
bird(s). Nothing inhumane in this, and although the applicability of
the test to real conditions of use might be challenged, the procedure
has resulted in significant strengthening and redesign of a number of
modern aircraft engines. 
 -lar
 Lar Kaufman   <= my opinions          Fidonet: 1:322/470@508-534-1842 
 kaufman@multimax.arpa    {bu-cs,decvax,necntc,talcott}!encore!kaufman