Aerowerx
Well-Known Member
There have been a number of discussions recently, on the crash survivability of different designs and construction methods. And also some mention of future readers getting the wrong ideas from reading the threads.
I think "what is a crash" should be defined along with whether or not it is survivable.
Lets say you are in free fall from 8000 feet AGL. Will the occupants survive, regardless of the type of construction?
What about an engine out, maintain control, perfect approach, but your gear catches a rabbit hole and collapses?
Are both of these scenarios "crashes"? Are your chances of survival the same in each?
And there are an infinite number of possibilities in between these two. Not to mention the extent of injuries classified as "surviving" (walk away with no bruises? 2 years in rehab learning to walk? a veggie for life?)
So just what is meant when someone says "material X with construction method A is more survivable than material Y and construction method B"?
I think "what is a crash" should be defined along with whether or not it is survivable.
Lets say you are in free fall from 8000 feet AGL. Will the occupants survive, regardless of the type of construction?
What about an engine out, maintain control, perfect approach, but your gear catches a rabbit hole and collapses?
Are both of these scenarios "crashes"? Are your chances of survival the same in each?
And there are an infinite number of possibilities in between these two. Not to mention the extent of injuries classified as "surviving" (walk away with no bruises? 2 years in rehab learning to walk? a veggie for life?)
So just what is meant when someone says "material X with construction method A is more survivable than material Y and construction method B"?