homebuilt safety

"Pete Schaefer" wrote in message
news:xMprc.4694$ny.935185@attbi_s53...

. . . Unfortunately, air-bags are out of the
question for aviation use (for the pilot at least....probably for
everyone).

Not. See http://www.avweb.com/news/snf2003/184230-1.html - last article,
bottom of page.

Rich S.

Air bags are a factory option on some certified planes, including the
Mooney. The bags are built into the seat belts.

Frank

"Rich S." wrote in message
...
"Pete Schaefer" wrote in message
news:xMprc.4694$ny.935185@attbi_s53...

. . . Unfortunately, air-bags are out of the
question for aviation use (for the pilot at least....probably for
everyone).

Not. See http://www.avweb.com/news/snf2003/184230-1.html - last article,
bottom of page.

Rich S.

On Fri, 21 May 2004 15:41:04 -0500, frank wrote:

Air bags are a factory option on some certified planes, including the
Mooney. The bags are built into the seat belts.

Frank


How are these things controlled? Where is the g-switch that triggers
them? Do they need electrical power to run the system? I wonder what
sort of electrical failures could cause them to fire when they shouldn't?
There have been incidents and accidents where debris in wiring
bundles has shorted a live wire to another wire, thus sending voltage
where it wasn't meant to go. This could potentially cause one of those
air bags to fire when it shouldn't.

I wonder if the air bag would push forward on the yoke if it fired in
flight? If this happened at low altitude, or a high enough airspeed,
could it cause an accident? If so, could installing one of these
air bags actually reduce the level of safety? Of is the perception of
safety more important than actual safety?

Just wondering.

--
Kevin Horton RV-8 (finishing kit)
Ottawa, Canada
http://go.phpwebhosting.com/~khorton/rv8/
e-mail: khorton02(_at_)rogers(_dot_)com

"Kevin Horton" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 21 May 2004 15:41:04 -0500, frank wrote:
I wonder if the air bag would push forward on the yoke if it fired in
flight? If this happened at low altitude, or a high enough airspeed,
could it cause an accident? If so, could installing one of these
air bags actually reduce the level of safety? Of is the perception of
safety more important than actual safety?

There are many "safety" devices, including airbags, safety belts, helmets
etc. that can occasionally backfire in a way to cause a death that might
otherwise not happen. The important thing is that after all is said and done,
the pile of people killed by the device must be much smaller than the pile of
people that would otherwise be dead without the device.


Vaughn

Vaughn wrote:

"Kevin Horton" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 21 May 2004 15:41:04 -0500, frank wrote:
I wonder if the air bag would push forward on the yoke if it fired in
flight? If this happened at low altitude, or a high enough airspeed,
could it cause an accident? If so, could installing one of these
air bags actually reduce the level of safety? Of is the perception of
safety more important than actual safety?

There are many "safety" devices, including airbags, safety belts, helmets
etc. that can occasionally backfire in a way to cause a death that might
otherwise not happen. The important thing is that after all is said and done,
the pile of people killed by the device must be much smaller than the pile of
people that would otherwise be dead without the device.

Vaughn

Perhaps less obvious, but just as important is how HARD
that airbag hits you when it goes off.

The TV always shows it in slow motion - so you can see it happening.
In reality, that sucker is gonna slap you silly, if not completely out.

Richard