THE LEGENDARY CHICKEN GUN IS THE ULTIMATE QUALITY CONTROL TEST FOR MILITARY PLANES


By origby
chicken gun

Have you ever wondered how the Air Force tests their aircraft? There are likely hundreds of tests the Air Force conducts to make sure their aircraft are up to speed, but have you heard about the chicken gun test? Keep reading to learn more about the purpose and origins of this insane and legendary chicken gun. See more:Deny It All You Like, Birds Aren’t Real

The Purpose of the Legendary Chicken Gun

The chicken gun (or chicken cannon) might sound strange at first, but once you learn its purpose, it makes total sense. The purpose of the chicken cannon is to test a plane’s resilience to a bird hit. Plane safety is extremely important, so checking to make sure a plane can withstand a flock of birds flying into it is essential.

How It Works

So, how does the chicken gun even work? A chicken gun essentially shoots out a chicken carcass going at 700 miles per hour into a glass canopy, like those on fighter jets. (No live chickens are hurt in the firing of the chicken gun.) This test is essential for the safety of those on the aircraft as well as for the aircraft itself. Birds hitting planes have caused many deaths, as well as significant (and costly) damages to aircraft. Conducting this chicken gun test ensures that those in the aircraft will remain safe if any birds hit the plane.

How Often Do Birds Hit Planes?

From 1990-2019, there were 227,005 recorded incidents of bird strikes on civilian aircraft in the U.S. alone. Outside of the U.S., 4,275 strikes have been reported on U.S. aircraft at foreign airports. Most bird strikes occur from July to October, when birds start to leave their nests for fall migration.

What Happens When a Bird Hits a Plane?

It’s one thing to know the stats, but what actually happens when a bird hits a plane? (Or, alternatively, what happens when a plane hits birds?) By far, the most common thing to occur is plane damage, and occasionally someone will get hurt due to a “bird-hits-plane” incident. From 1990 to 2019, engine damage was the highest recorded incident following a bird strike. During this same window of time, 327 human injuries occurred due to bird strike incidents. In 1960, Eastern Air Lines Flight 375 hit a flock of starlings during take-off. All four of the engines were damaged, causing the plane to crash in the Boston harbor. Not including the birds, there were 64 fatalities due to this crash, making this one of the highest numbers of casualties in a bird incident. Additionally, from 1988 to 2019, 217 aircraft were destroyed or damaged beyond repair due to bird strikes. A lot of lives have been lost to bird strike incidents, as well as a lot of money. Though a chicken gun might sound like a joke at first, these incidents prove that the chicken gun test is essential in order for the safety of those in the aircraft, as well as to avoid huge expenses.

Origins of the Legendary Chicken Gun

The legend of the chicken gun was first started in the mid-‘90s. It began with a story in a poultry magazine and was further expounded upon in magazines around the world. Some reported that it was used by British train engineers; others reported that it was used by American jet engineers. The real story behind the gun is that it started being used in the 1970s. It was used as a “stress test” for jet planes before the design could be officially certified. Some engineers prefer their birds already plucked, but others prefer a more realistic test, feathers and all. Regardless of where the chicken cannon actually began, it has played a significant role in the engineering of planes. The chicken gun, as humorous as it sounds, is actually pretty important for plane safety. The Air Force uses the chicken gun to test their planes to ensure that a bird strike won’t severely damage the craft and kill those aboard. The legendary chicken gun will likely stay legendary while helping engineers across the globe. See more:The Air Force Penis Drawing Was a Work of Art, But Was it Actually an Accident?


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