The state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries has developed a structural
concept to protect aircraft from damage that stemmed from bird impact. The
company produced a prototype called Bird Splitter that destroys an incoming
bird and thereby protects aircraft structure and crucial systems.
"The Bird Splitter structure is located on the aircrafts' tail and
designed to 'split' an incoming bird and thereby protect aircraft structure
and crucial systems," IAI said.
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The company presented its concept at the Israel Annual Conference on
Aerospace Sciences, held on Feb. 23. Executives said Bird Splitter was
installed on the new IAI-manufactured G-250 business jet, a member of
Gulfstream Aerospace's super mid-size category family.
Birds have posed a major threat to aircraft, particularly during takeoff
and landing. Birds have been sucked into aircraft engines, which sometimes
resulted in a shutdown.
The conference also hosted a competition by students from the Israel's
Technion, whose graduates work in the nation's aerospace and defense sector.
One project was termed "Batmobil," an aircraft developed under the guidance
of an IAI engineer, Shlomo Tsach.