Bird strike shatters windscreen - GIF

[WmRMeyers]

I used to work on F-111D fighter jets, and then became still photographer for the USAF while still at the same base. Had to go take photos of a sparrow (we think. Feathers and such were pretty messed up) that punched a hole a foot deep and about an inch in diameter into the wing root of one the aircraft I used to work on. Fortunately it missed the wing pivot pin. Had another that got hit by a goose on the divider between the two halves of the windscreen. Both aircrew got a face-full of broken glass and splattered goose, but they were able to land it. IIRC they were on approach when it happened. Water is non-compressible. You can demonstrate this for yourself by jumping in to a pool in a belly flop. The water displaces around you, but the initial impact hurts a lot. Our bodies, and the bird bodies are mostly water. The splatter happens mostly after they penetrate the surface.

Bill