I’ve had the pilot’s story, second hand.
He was returning to Bicester and the canopy shattered for no apparent reason. He doesn’t think it was a bird or a drone. With his injuries and no canopy, flying must have been particularly difficult so he decided to jump.
Surgeons were unable to save his eye.
Oh crap, that’s a huge deal.
In terms of survival it’s fantastic, but the poor chap will now have a whole lot to deal with, and maybe not fly again.
My deepest condolences to him.
Graham wrote:
[…] and the canopy shattered for no apparent reason.
Not to be obstructive but trying to understand – can harly imagine a canopy shattering without reason. Isn’t it made of polycarbonate?
What could be a reason that this happens? With glass I can think of a few mechanisms, from temperature stress to embedded nickel sulfide.
Scary accident…
