Firing Frozen Chickens at Jet Engines

Engineers use giant air cannons to blast bird carcasses into airplane parts. This bizarre test ensures that jet engines can survive mid-air collisions with wildlife at high speeds.

To simulate the impact of a bird strike, researchers fire frozen or thawed chickens at windshields and engines. These gruesome tests are essential because even a small bird can cause catastrophic engine failure at flight speeds. The practice is so common that these devices are officially known as chicken guns. This extreme method helps aviation experts design safer aircraft that keep passengers protected from airborne hazards.