By Andrew Liszewski
Ever wonder what would happen if a pelican hit an F-111 that was flying at just over 340mph? Well these two photos should give you a pretty good idea. The incident happened in Australia at Evans Head in the northern part of New South Wales about a week ago. The plane was flying at around 3,000 feet during a test bombing raid when a pelican collided with the fiberglass nosecone and was then sucked into one of the engines.
As you can see, the nosecone itself was nearly destroyed and other damage included a hole in the wing as well as an engine failure. However, the two RAAF pilots were still able to safely land the heavily damaged plane, and are being hailed as heroes. I’m actually pretty shocked at just how much damage the pelican caused, particularly how shredded the fiberglass material looks. I assume they now use materials like carbon-fiber instead of fiberglass when it comes to building high-performance fighter/bombers, but then again what do I know since I’ve never actually gotten around to building my own. It’s too bad too because that kit sitting in the garage cost me $35 million.
For more pics check out the NEWS.com.au gallery.
[ F-111 almost downed – by a pelican ] VIA [ FAZED ]
Could be kevlar?
will it blend
it’s absurd that the UK still uses F-111’s that are 30 years obsolete.
New South Wales is australia, and RAAF is royal autralian airforce numb nuts
$35M? Someone took you to the cleaners these are only $10M planes…
$35 million AND they told it was pelican proof.
The article failed to mention the damage to the peilcan!
Carbon wouldnt be safer… the impact damage would be the same
only in longitudinal strength it would be better as fiberglass and that advantage
doesnt matter for impact damages
Greez from German Airforce
Wow.
Wow.
How could you even compare Australia to the UK… Australia is soooo much better, and even if they are 30 years obsolete, they still do better than the piece of crap some people call the F/A-18
How could you even compare Australia to the UK… Australia is soooo much better, and even if they are 30 years obsolete, they still do better than the piece of crap some people call the F/A-18
The RAF never used these. It was the USAF…x
The aussies and the americans used these. The RAAF is australian.
I know the F-18 could destroy F-111 in a dogfight.. but I want to see the Hornet carry all the jamming and bombing gear the F-111 has. It could never do it. The F-111 is 30 years old because it’s a damn good plane and does the mission, not because people are cheap. The hornet, as you know, doesn’t even have half the legacy of this aircraft.