I think Noel's comment that we only need worry about Pelicans causing us mid-air catastrophe is a bit unwise.
I suffered an eagle mid-air in Spring some years back wherein it rolled on its back about 200' above me and dropped straight down. This after putting up with me for 2-3 turns in the thermal. It struck mid-span right on the spar cap with a helluva bang, leaving a big visible dent (on the spar cap!) and causing $8,000 worth of damage. I shudder to think what a couple of kilos doing 50-60 knots vertically would have done if it hit the cockpit, the tail boom, the tailplane, etc. I've soared with eagles many times over 50+ years of soaring and they are predictably aggressive in Spring and especially so when they have young with them. Prior to the above incident, their attack was always a steep head-on dive that was easy to spot and evade. I now choose to leave the thermal if they manoeuvre to above me within 1-200 feet. That said, they are still a magnificent sight that inspires awe in the air up close - that beak, those eyes and the way their small wing-top feathers dance in the turbulent flow. I still can't outclimb them but, interestingly, I have outclimbed Sea-eagles once or twice. Maybe that is because they don't seem to climb too high the way Wedgies do. Cheers John Gwyther
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