Author Topic: Pilot Story  (Read 649 times)

Offline Infidelz

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Pilot Story
« on: November 06, 2009, 10:15:31 AM »
This came to my inbox yesterday and I thought it was inspiring.  :banana:
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This is pretty neat description of aerial combat.  This came from a gent who runs a 2000 acre corn farm up around Barron, WI, not far from Oshkosh.  He used to fly F-4Es and F-16s for the Guard and participated in the first Gulf War.
 
His story:
 
I went out to plant corn for a bit to finish a field before tomorrow morning and witnessed The Great Battle.  A golden eagle - big bastard, with about a six foot wingspan - flew right in front of the tractor.  It was being chased by three crows that were continually dive bombing it and pecking at it.  The crows do this because the eagles rob their nests when they find them.
 
At any rate, the eagle banked hard right in one evasive maneuver, then landed in the field about 100 feet from the tractor.  This eagle stood about 3 feet tall.  The crows all landed too, and took up positions around the eagle at 120 degrees apart, but kept their distance at about 20 feet from the big bird.  The eagle would take a couple steps towards one of the crows and they'd hop backwards and forward to keep their distance.  Then the reinforcement showed up.
 
I happened to spot the eagle's mate hurtling down out of the sky at what appeared to be approximately Mach 1.5.  Just before impact the eagle on the ground took flight, (obviously a coordinated tactic;  probably pre-briefed) and the three crows which were watching the grounded eagle, also took flight thinking they were going to get in some more pecking on the big bird.
 
The first crow being targeted by the diving eagle never stood a snowball's chance in hell.  There was a mid-air explosion of black feathers and that crow was done.  The diving eagle then banked hard left in what had to be a 9G climbing turn, using the energy it had accumulated in the dive, and hit crow #2 less than two seconds later.  Another crow dead.
 
The grounded eagle, which was now airborne and had an altitude advantage on the remaining crow, which was streaking eastward in full burner, made a short dive then banked hard right when the escaping crow tried to evade the hit.  It didn't work - crow #3 bit the dust at about 20 feet AGL.
 
This aerial battle was better than any air show I've been to, including the warbirds show at Oshkosh.  The two eagles ripped the crows apart and ate them on the ground, and as I got closer and closer working my way across the field, I passed within 20 feet of one of them as it ate its catch.  It stopped and looked at me as I went by and you could see in the look of that bird that it knew who's Boss Of The Sky.  What a beautiful bird!
 
I loved it.  Not only did they kill their enemy, they ate them.  One of the best Fighter Pilot stories I've seen in a long time.


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Offline Swoop

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2009, 10:29:44 AM »
Good story

Offline Bradman

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2009, 11:06:15 AM »
 :aok

Offline Ghosth

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2009, 11:57:15 AM »
Great story infidel! <S>

We've been graced the last 3 years with Golden Eagles soaring above our house evenings.
We live right in downtown Fargo North Dakota, less than a mile from the Red River.

Don't see them every day, but on average  in nice weather at least 3 times a week.
I suspect they are prowling for loose poodles and cats

Often they are high, riding the thermals, but sometimes low, right down at treetop level.
When they are low I can often decoy them right overhead with a whistle or a squeaking rabbit predator call.
Someday I'll have to try to get some pics.

Offline Maverick

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2009, 12:39:47 PM »
Good story thanks. Oh and Sierra Hotel to the Eagles.
 :lol
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Offline lowZX14

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2009, 02:12:50 PM »
So what did we learn from this? 

#1  Teamwork always prevails
#2  Don't get caught low and slow chasing one bad guy around when you know his alt monkey buddy will swoop in and pick you off 1 by 1
#3  Vulching will eventually catch up to you and you will die

Great story  :aok
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Offline Denholm

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2009, 02:25:04 PM »
That had to be entertaining! Thanks for sharing.
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Offline Bradman

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2009, 02:28:41 PM »
So what did we learn from this? 

#1  Teamwork always prevails
#2  Don't get caught low and slow chasing one bad guy around when you know his alt monkey buddy will swoop in and pick you off 1 by 1
#3  Vulching will eventually catch up to you and you will die

Great story  :aok

Actually the vulcher(2nd eagle) came out on top.

Offline Kotari

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2009, 03:39:11 PM »
Great story  :salute

Aftermath in the 200 channel:

Crow1: you lowlife picker you
Crow2: thatīs the only way you ever get a kill of me, DA now ?
Crow3: that altmonkey dont know any ACM, donīt bother
Eagle1: Muahaha, thanks for the kills noobs
Eagle2: pffft no skill crows
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Offline cpxxx

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #9 on: November 07, 2009, 05:37:16 AM »
Great story  :salute

Aftermath in the 200 channel:

Crow1: you lowlife picker you
Crow2: thatīs the only way you ever get a kill of me, DA now ?
Crow3: that altmonkey dont know any ACM, donīt bother
Eagle1: Muahaha, thanks for the kills noobs
Eagle2: pffft no skill crows

 :rofl Brought tears to my eyes that :aok

Offline RTHolmes

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #10 on: November 07, 2009, 10:08:34 AM »
excellent combat report :aok


I loved it.  Not only did they kill their enemy, they ate them.

 :lol
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Offline EskimoJoe

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #11 on: November 07, 2009, 03:06:17 PM »
Truly amazing  :aok
Put a +1 on your geekness atribute  :aok

Offline Bruv119

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Re: Pilot Story
« Reply #12 on: November 07, 2009, 03:11:43 PM »
EAGLES have landed 3 victories and ate them    :rock

WTG guys.

little gangtards got pwned!!  
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