> In a recent issue of Meat & Poultry magazine, editors quoted from
> "Feathers," the publication of the California Poultry Industry
> Federation, telling the following story:
> It seems the US Federal Aviation Administration has a unique
> device
> for testing the strength of windshields on airplanes. The device
> is a
> gun that launches a dead chicken at a plane's windshield at
> approximately the speed the airplane flies..
> The theory is that if the windshield can withstand the carcass
> test
> impact, it'll survive a real collision with a bird during
> flight..
> Apparently, the British were very interested in this and wanted
> to
> test a windshield on a brand new, high-speed train they were
> developing..
> They borrowed the FAA's chicken launcher, loaded a chicken and
> fired.
> The ballistic chicken not only shattered the windshield, but went
> through the engineer's seat, broke an instrument panel, and was
> imbedded in the back wall of the engine cab. The British were
> stunned
> and asked the FAA to review the test to see if everything was
> done
> correctly..
> The FAA reviewed the data thoroughly and had one recommendation:
> "Use a thawed chicken."
>
|