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Just returned from the airport and heard this-still waiting to hear more details, but definitely a good hangar story.
A pilot friend of mine with one other, flew up to a small non-towered airport north of here - fairly remote, in a forested area. Just as they were in the landing flare...7/8 deer crossed the runway. Obviously they didn't see them before, I guess one went under the wing, but not one hit the fuselage or the prop. So very lucky...anybody else have wildlife experiences?

no personal experience, ive had countless near misses with birds. i had friends in flight school whack a couple white tail deer with a 152 one night. one just kind of bounced off the side another hit the left main gear went up over the empennage and into the vertical. all metal needed replaced aft of baggage. nearly totalled it.

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Everyone must believe in something, I believe that I will go flying.

Did you see the bird strike photos on avweb last week? Right through the cowling, you could still see the wings sticking out.

no actually i didnt.

i was doing an IPC with a friend in his baron this weekend and a small flock of sparrows or swallows or something went flying over the right engine. scared the heck out of me and i about jumped in my friends lap

_________________
Everyone must believe in something, I believe that I will go flying.

I've seen what a deer can do to a truck, but a 152? yikes...
here are the photos
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Ph ... 324-1.html

yowzers.

yea i wish i woulda gotten pictures of that 152. it was pretty beat up.

_________________
Everyone must believe in something, I believe that I will go flying.

A year or two ago there was a guy interviewed on one of the podcasts I listen to. He was flying somewhere in southern Virginia, coming in to land after dusk with several passengers. Deer either entered or were already on the runway, so he applied full power to go around shortly before touchdown. Long story short, he clipped the head of a jumping deer with his stabilator. The impact bent and jammed the stabilator.

At first, he could control pitch only with power, then he discovered he could use trim. Interestingly, the trim flap worked opposite the normal way, because it was acting like an elevator rather than trimming the stabiltor. Anyway, he was able to maintain control until fire trucks, etc., arrived, and then safely land. No injuries to anyone but the deer. Cool story, and my hat's off to the guy for being able to keep the plane flying.

That is impressive. We train often for emergency procedures, but can only speculate what control service damage would bring us. Some good careful thought about this though and thorough understanding will definitely prepare us as much as possible. That's quite a story.
Anybody out there have exercises?