"Marian Aldenhövel" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Your head is trying to stay where in one postion spatially, so the
result is a force against the canopy equal to the mass of your
head times the G forces.

Minus the force your neck exerts on your head, right? Which brings
us back to restraining systems.

Ciao, MM
--
Marian Aldenhövel, Rosenhain 23, 53123 Bonn. +49 228 624013.
http://www.marian-aldenhoevel.de
"Flying an An-2 is like making love to a fat lady who's had too much to
drink:
there's a lot to work with, it's unresponsive, you're never quite sure
when
you're there, and it's big-time ugly."

Many Eastern European gliders have toe straps for the rudder pedals which do
a good job of keeping your shins from banging the underside of the
instrument panel. The seat belt does a great job of keeping your butt in
the seat. The problem is with the shoulder straps.

Since pilots sit reclining, shoulder straps are usually angled 45 degrees to
the longitudinal axis so they are only effective in preventing the upper
torso from bending up and forward at the hip joint in a crash. They are
much less effective in preventing the upper torso, neck and head from moving
vertically in turbulence.

What if the shoulder belts crossed over the chest like bandoleers and
attached to the seat belt anchors somewhat like double automotive shoulder
straps? That seems like it would secure the upper body well but I don't
know how a quick release would work.

The idea of shoulder restraints as part of the canopy frame would work great
with front and rear hinging canopies. I can't see it working with side
hinging canopies.

Thinking about this has made me realize that what I really fear about
turbulence is a head or neck injury. I'm not really concerned about an
upset since I know I can fly out of it safely. Getting knocked out by a
blow to the head is a real concern for me.

Knowing for certain that my head couldn't touch any part of the glider in
severe turbulence would be a real comfort.

Bill Daniels