Re:What Happens When a Drone Hits an Airplane Wing? [video]
by jetrink on Wednesday October 03, 2018 @03:02PM
(#18133655)
The engineer that conducted the test concluded that the plane would have been able to survive the impact. However, he said that if the test were conducted on a faster aircraft like a business jet, the results could be worse.
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Re:What Happens When a Drone Hits an Airplane Wing? [video]
by geoelectric on Wednesday October 03, 2018 @03:09PM
(#18133726)
Realizing I should go watch the video, did he say at what height it would be recoverable?
For example, there's been at least one high-profile plane crash in the past (Lauda Flight 004) where a thrust reverser (diverts the jet output forward instead of backwards, used to slow you down quick during landing) deployed mid-flight. That should have been recoverable, but turns out Boeing only projected outcome at low speeds and altitudes. The outcome at cruising speeds/altitudes turned out to be far different and the plane went down.
While cruise wouldn't be an issue (don't think they get up that high!) I'd expect the outcome of a drone hitting a flight control surface might vary between takeoff, landing, and lowish-altitude holding.