See what happens when a drone crashes into an airplane wing

While drones are a terrific tool - after all, as well as capturing incredible aerial imagery, they are being used for scientific purposes and proving to be true hands-on for researchers in various fields - when used irresponsibly. They also offer their dangers. And what's not lacking there is who use the devices as a toy ...

Serious joke

A risk that until recently has not been taken very seriously is the possible collision of drones with aircraft, as it is prohibited to use such equipment near airports and airstrips. But you know how things are, right? Despite restrictions, incidents turn around and move - including one that crashed a US Air Force Black Hawk helicopter last year.

At the time, as the aircraft was neither too high or flying at high speeds, the damage was only material. However, according to Peter Dockrill of the Science Alert website, researchers at Dayton University have decided to do a lot of testing to see what could happen if collisions occurred at higher speeds - and the results showed a slightly daunting scenario.

Tests

If you were expecting to watch a video of mind-blowing explosions and a lot of destruction, we feel that for obvious reasons, scientists conducted the tests in the lab - and only simulated collisions using a small aircraft, a drone and an air cannon. More specifically, the team looped a DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter toward the wing of a Mooney M20, a 4-rent jet, as if the jet was traveling at 383 km / h.

And contrary to what the researchers themselves expected - they thought the little drone would be sprayed into the crash - the DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter did a beautiful one of the damage by puncturing the jet's wing. According to the scientists, the collision caused serious damage to a structure called "stringer", which is precisely the main piece used in the assembly of the wing of an airplane, a key item for it to remain flying.

Although the test involved a small model and much less robust than the large aircraft used in civil aviation, but the drone is not what we can call a super-resistant flying machine. This is a little thing made of plastic about 1 kg. See below:

Real danger

The truth is that everyone is used to fear collisions between birds and airplanes - and for at least four decades tests simulating such encounters have taken place. Basically, damage from bird accidents is well known, but when it comes to drones (of which many models are similar in size and weight to birds), little is known about the possible risks. But the amount of these devices in the air keeps increasing, so the dangers need to be assessed.

Incidentally, the researchers took the opportunity to conduct simulations to check the damage done under the same conditions, but if the collision occurred with a bird. Don't worry, they used a bird made of gelatin (about the same size and weight as a real one), and although the animal caused greater apparent damage, the creature never penetrated the wing like the drone.

It is important to note that we are only talking about a test battery - under conditions and with limited equipment. But it is undeniable that the simulations show that it is necessary to do more comprehensive studies and better evaluate the results of potential impacts. Remembering that on larger aircraft the fuel is stored on the wings, right? So think...

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