This makes me sad.... Flying low can be fun. From personal experience I only do it when I know the area, typically right over the runway, ie, low pass. It still has risks. Hitting a bird at 200 mph, will cause major damage to plane and you, if it comes through windscreen (and it will). Good face/eye protection (ie helmet) is not a bad idea. Of course birds come at all altitudes, but it's more likely at lower altitudes.
I read an NTSB accident report of RV flying low over river. It hit a ZIP line across the river (uncharted). The pilot was killed. I have flow low along rivers before. It is fun and you think you are safe... Wires are bad and you can hit them even when not flying low. Some radio/TV towers are 1000-2000 feet AGL. Flying into the sun, hitting a tower or guy wire has happened..
Piper Arrow at an FBO I rented from decades ago, being flown by another pilot, lost an eye from impact with bird in cruise flight about 1000 ft AGL.
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George
Raleigh, NC Area
RV-4, RV-7, ATP, CFII, MEI, 737/757/767
Last edited by gmcjetpilot : 11-13-2018 at 07:48 PM.
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