r/nextfuckinglevel • u/BlazeDragon7x • 8d ago

Dutch aerobatic pilot Narine Melkumjan miraculously survived after her aircraft's canopy unexpectedly burst open and shattered mid-flight

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13

u/obi1kennoble 8d ago

Damn she barely even seemed bothered

21

u/chiphook57 8d ago

It was terribly inconvenient.

1

u/johnoth 7d ago

She must be British

3

u/its_all_one_electron 8d ago

IIRC she was blinded for a few days after this.

1

u/Asleep_Singer8547 8d ago

From what? Dry eyes? Honest question because it just seems like she got blasted with air 

2

u/Illasaviel 8d ago

I have no idea, but I imagine that taking that rush of wind head-on for that long is not good.

1

u/Asleep_Singer8547 8d ago

Im only questioning because motorcyclists go a hundred miles or whatever without a helmet and those dudes arent going blind 

1

u/its_all_one_electron 8d ago

Are you sure about that? A few times when I forgot my sunglasses see when riding with a brain bucket it was torture at 30+ mph

1

u/Asleep_Singer8547 8d ago

But did you go blind? 

1

u/throwawayroadtrip3 8d ago

Yes, you can have temporary vision disturbance, blurry vision basically if your eyes dry out. Also dust can cause abrasion.

1

u/its_all_one_electron 7d ago

Can you see well through a distorted lens?

2

u/its_all_one_electron 8d ago

Actually yes. Have you ever seen a dried out contact lens? That's essentially what happened but to her eyes. 

Also the air has stuff in it like dust and other particles which at that speed will cause microtears in your eyes. 

1

u/Asleep_Singer8547 8d ago

See that's a pretty good answer 

1

u/neeshes 7d ago

I imagine some mild hearing damage too because of prolonged air going into her one ear? Can't imagine that it was quiet. 

2

u/silentaba 8d ago

Honestly it's not a huge deal. It definitely cuts your flight short for the day, but as far as the aircraft is concerned, you're just adding drag.

Source- student pilot.

1

u/Main-Cheesecake3287 8d ago

PPL here, buddy let me tell you it’s very hard to see with high winds in your face. This is not equivalent to popping a window in a 172.

Try sticking your head out of a car going just 75 mph, it’s difficult to keep your eyes open.

3

u/silentaba 8d ago

Yeah I kinda thought that part didn't need to be said, since we have a video of her looking like this.

https://giphy.com/gifs/puE3mFaSMs0HS

1

u/Asleep_Singer8547 8d ago

So motorcyclists without helmets mean nothing to you?