Bird strike prevention device for jet engine, and airplane incorporating the same

A bird strike prevention device for protecting an air intake of a jet engine of an airplane, the bird strike prevention device comprising:

• a plurality of stays arranged to form substantially a multi-faceted conical shape as a whole and configured to cover the air intake in a first operation mode and uncover the air intake in a second operation mode;
• a plurality of catch portions configured to connect the plurality of stays to each other when the plurality of stays covers the air intake in the first operation mode, each catch portion being disposed on each stay on an apex side of substantially the conical shape;
• and
• a driver mechanism configured to change positions of the plurality of stays relative to the air intake to change the operation mode between the first operation mode and the second operation mode, wherein
• the plurality of stays are connected to each other on the apex side with the plurality of catch portions and mounted on the jet engine near an outer edge of the air intake at a base of substantially the conical shape,
• an axis of substantially the multi-faceted conical shape substantially coincides with a rotation axis of the jet engine, and
• the plurality of stays are metallic, between 6 and 20 feet in length, and each angled from the joining portion away from the rotation axis of the jet engine between 11.5 and 41 degrees.