"We also found that when the fly makes planning movements prior to take-off, it takes into account its body position at the time it first sees the threat," Dickinson said.

Potter's year of volunteering at Coalescence paid off when the company's founders asked her to take the reins as president -- a salaried position.

But protect a jet engine against saltwater corrosion and position it high on the craft so the spray doesn't enter the intake during take-off and landing, and it will work fine.