Reddit reviews OfficemateOIC Aluminum Forms Storage Clipboard, 8.5 x 12 Inch (83200)

Always be working. I carried all of my homework in an aluminum clipboard and every time I had down time I'd do homework or work on it. Even if it was just the boring part of filling in required information.

Like this?

http://www.amazon.com/OfficemateOIC-Aluminum-Storage-Clipboard-83200/dp/B000Q62CKE

Or this?

http://www.staples.com/Clipboards/cat_CL140606?fids=4224926164

I use one of these metal ones: This is pretty much the same thing on Amazon. They are durable as heck, I can have it loaded up with all sorts of papers I might need. I can fit all of my pens and such. It's a little bit bulky, but it's perfect for my needs. Plus, I know I won't break it when I do run out into the field. Mine may not be the exact same brand as the one on Amazon there, but it looks the same. I picked it up for about $15 at Walmart.

A high vis vest, a hardhat, a radio/walkie, and clipboard are like a real life Cloak of Invisibility (double points if the clipboard is one of these bad boys).

>If it gets sucked into a turbine engine, yeah.

Actually, killing the engine isn't a scenario I'd be worried about. Helicopters can land with a dead engine. Its the bird going into the cockpit that takes them down by incapacitating the pilot(s) or interfering with the controls.

As you said, there is the well known 2009 crash. A 2.4 (average) pound red-tailed hawk went through the windscreen, hit the throttles for both engines shutting them down. You might wonder how such a light bird could go through the windshield of such a big helicopter (7000-11,700 lbs). The helicopter was cruising at 155mph. The windshields on helicopters do not have to withstand birdstrikes like on airliners, they are often acrylic. Take any 1-3 pound object and hit it with acrylic at 155mph and it will go through.

This quad is a ZMR250. Best I can find is about 500grams for a flyable one. With an additional 88g for the gopro4. That's about 1.3 pounds of plastic, carbon fiber and metal. Plenty heavy enough to go through the windshield and incapacitate a pilot.

As for accidents. Here are a few, starting with fatalities:

1. CEN09MA117 This is the 2009 one discussed.
   
2. LAX93LA166 Bird strike to tail rotor. He was able to successfully make a landing in the water, but not before his passenger jumped out and died.
   
3. HH-60G Pave Hawk geese flying through the aircraft’s windshield, knocking the pilot and co-pilot unconscious. This is a 16,000-22,000 lb military helicopter.
   
4. WPR10FA440 Not a bird strike, but a metal clipboard. First result googling "metal clipboard" I found is this weight 1.5 lbs, or about the same as the drone.
   
   Now for the non-fatal ones:
   
   
5. DEN69F0190 Bird strike on tail rotor.
   
6. FTW73DRD15 Buzzard jammed between transmission and swash plate,cyclic control tube broken
   
7. MIA88FA257 Seagull hit tail rotor causing in flight separation
   
8. FTW90FA111 Multiple bird strike causing in flight vibrations and requiring immediate landing
   
9. FTW95LA011 Bird strike resulting in autorotation
   
10. FTW97LA354 A bird struck and sheared the cyclic push pull tube
    
11. NYC98LA079 helicopter started to descend from a stabilized 20-foot hover, and rotate to the right after striking a bird of unknown type
    
12. DFW06CA048 a large buzzard collided with the right windscreen and struck the pilot's face
    
13. DEN07CA073 two of the three tail rotor blades were bent, and the drive shaft was bent 24 degrees. Feathers and bird remains were found in the tail rotor system
    
14. ERA11CA012 the main rotor blades required replacement after hitting a bird
    
15. ERA12LA379 The pilot felt something impact the upper right side of the helicopter near the main rotor mast area. The helicopter began shaking violently and became difficult to control. Evidence of bird remains were present on components of the rotor head, two of the four pitch change rods, and the tail rotor. Both pitch change rods with bird remains were separated from one of their attach points.
    
16. ERA14CA009 both windshields were blown out, the center post and the cabin shell were damaged, the doors were blown open and onboard medical equipment was missing. On the ground, a crewmember stated that just before the event, he had seen a black bird fly toward the helicopter from above and left, but did not have enough time to call it out.
    
17. CEN15CA039 one of the birds and the retreating main rotor blade collided. The pilot landed the helicopter without further incident. Examination of the helicopter revealed substantial damage to the main rotor blade.
    
    I'm sure with some more time I could find more. The point is, yes, small birds can and do bring down large helicopters, sometimes people die as a result. Flying near airports, helicopter routes, or without a spotter is a bad idea.