Bird-plane collisions are universal problem. (Photo provided by Northwestern Polytechnical University)

Professor Li Yulong. (Photo/China Youth Daily)

After years of hard work, a research team led by Professor Li Yulong from China's Northwestern Polytechnical University has made a breakthrough in solving the problem of bird-plane collisions.

According to IATA (International Air Transport Association), at least 63 civilian aircraft have crashed since 1912 due to collisions with birds. This type of accident causes even greater harm to military aircraft due to their high flying speeds; since 1950, there have been 353 serious accidents involving military aircraft hitting birds, causing at least 165 deaths. 

Targeting this challenge, Professor Li's team put forward an innovative new design concept with the aim of "clearing the path rather than blocking it." 

He further explained, "A soft-bodied bird, in the context of a high-speed impact, behaves more or less like a liquid, similar to the way water behaves when splashed on a board. Since it behaves this way, we may as well alter our strategy to take that into account."

The new technique already obtained a U.S. patent in 2015, and will soon get one from France as well. In addition, the technique has been applied to many military and civil aircraft, always to superb effect. Included in these aircrafts is China's domestically produced C919 plane.