Light plane hits turbines

The robustness of both light aircraft and Enercon wind turbines were put to the test when a collision between the two in thick fog in France resulted in relatively minor material damage and no personal injury. The accident, which attracted surprisingly little press attention in a country quick to produce anti wind power headlines, happened back in April at the Plouguin wind plant in Finistère, Brittany, owned by Canada's Boralex. Apparently, the pilot of the biplane was flying below the authorised limit because of the bad weather. The first sign of trouble was when he clipped the blade of one machine with his wing, then hit a second turbine. Despite losing chunks off both wings, the pilot managed to land safely 15 kilometres later at Brest. The two Enercon 2 MW turbines have now been repaired and are back in action.