From great moments in engineering: the following story reportedly (Yes, this does have all the markings of one of those urban legends.) comes from a recent issue of Meat & Poultry Magazine. Editors quoted from Feathers, the publication of the California Poultry Industry Federation:The US Federal Aviation Administration has a unique device for testing the strength of windshields on airplanes. The device is a gun that launches a dead chicken at a plane’s windshield at approximately the speed the plane flies.
The theory is that if the windshield doesn’t crack from the carcass impact, it’ll survive a real collision with a bird during flight.
It seems the British were very interested in this and wanted to test a windshield on a brand new, speedy locomotive they’re developing. They borrowed FAA’s chicken launcher, loaded the chicken and fired.
The ballistic chicken shattered the windshield, broke the engineer’s chair and embedded itself in the back wall of the engine’s cab. The British were stunned and asked the FAA to recheck the test to see if everything was done correctly.
The FAA reviewed the test thoroughly and had one recommendation:
Use a thawed chicken.
Communication. So vital to good relationships, yet so subject to breakdowns. Have you ever found yourself in trouble (in your marriage, in friendships, or at work) because you didn’t listen carefully to what someone else said to you? You thought you understood correctly, and you almost understood correctly, but you overlooked one tiny detail and it almost proved to be disastrous.
Listening is an art that few have mastered. We would much rather be heard than take the time and trouble to listen to others. But God’s Word has much to say about the value of listening.
Listen to advice and accept correction, and in the end you will be wise. (Proverbs 19:20 NCV)
My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. (James 1:19a NCV)
Take the effort today to listen carefully to others. It just may prevent a frozen chicken from flying through your windshield!
~Alan Smith
