[thrill]

Well, I've hit birds with wingspans around a dozen feet (didn't go measure). They make a mess, and have killed people I knew, but that was mostly because of their size and the penetration of the windscreen. Hitting a smaller object could certainly cause some damage but it wouldn't likely be immediate and catastrophic unless it was in a critical spot.

[Alupis]

> unless it was in a critical spot

Which is where most strikes occur. Low speed (relative for an aircraft) and low altitude.

A bird hitting the prop, sucked into an engine, tail strike, windscreen, etc... all can be devastating for any aircraft, be it GA or commercial.

A drone strike isn't somehow going to be better for the aircraft...

[thrill]

Well, sure you don't want to hit anything unless you want to hit it, but doing so is unlikely to be the mushroom cloud event that seems to be believed occurs when hitting a drone.

[SamBam]

> birds with wingspans around a dozen feet

Albatross or pelican?

I think 12.1 feet is the world record.

[thrill]

Spanish condors - they look bigger when they suddenly appear in your way.