Simviation Forums

Some english pilot made an off-field landing in his Auster, to get a drink at the local pub. When he returned the resident cow population had decided to ruin his airplane...
The damage was such that the aircraft had to be returned home on a trailer

I heard someone mention this on the radio this morning but I couldn't find any reference on the web. They said that a plane had been eaten by cows. I thought this was exaggerating things a little.

Cattle always were partial to aircraft dope & lick it off. Their rough tongues ruin the fabric covering. The pioneer aviators knew all about this many years ago as they often landed in farmer's fields so I'm surprised that this chap didn't. Ah well, he knows now.

I think that cows would have a job to eat the whole plane though. Most Austers are fabric covered over all-metal construction. LOL

Okay I have stopped laughing

But cows will lick the fabric on aircraft and have been doing it since the beginning of flight.

Cows and horses will follow a hot air balloon if it passes over them until they reach a fence.

The fabric elevators on many bush aircraft including the Douglas DC3 (Dakota, C47 etc.) were fabric covered.  When the aircraft was used in the artic, early warning dew line or by bush operators in northern remote areas the natives would use soap stone to write on the fabric while the aircraft was being loaded and unloaded.  On the DC3 (Dakota, C47 ) this was about eye level.  This was how early mail and news was delivered between settlements.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

>:( :-/ >:( :-/ :-/
If I was that pilot I would have a whole lot of new steaks in my in my freezer right about now.