CHICKEN PRACTISE

The British Aviation Authority used to test the strength of windshields on planes using a device that could fire out dead chickens at extremely high speed. The device was pointed at the aircraft's windshield and if the chicken didn't break it, it was assumed that the windshield would survive the impacts of actual collisions with birds when in flight. British Rail had recently designed a new locomotive and was testing various designs of windshields, so they borrowed the device from the BAA. Adjusting it to approximate the maximum speed of the train, they loaded a dead chicken and fired it at the first windshield design. The chicken went straight through the windshield, broke several components and left a huge dent in the compartment door. Surprised by the result, they asked a BAA official if they had done the test correctly. An engineer checked everything and suggested that for their next test they defrost the chicken.

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