Study: Drones vs. bird impacts

Small drone impacts may cause more damage to manned aircraft than bird strikes, according to the conclusions of a study by the University of Dayton (Ohio) Research Institute’s (UDRI) Impact Physics group. Researchers evaluated damage a 2.1-pound DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter could have on the leading edge of a Mooney M20 wing compared to an identically-weighted gel bird. The tests simulated the impact of both on the wing at an impact speed of 238 mph. According to UDRI: The bird did more apparent damage to the leading edge of the wing, but the drone “penetrated deeper into the wing and damaged the main spar, which the bird did not do.” The UDRI group routinely performs sponsored bird-strike testing of aircraft. The study was conducted to assist the aviation and drone communities “understand the dangers that even recreational drones can pose to manned aircraft before a significant event occurs,” said Kevin Poormon, group leader for the study. (Source: AIN Online 11/02/18)