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-   -   Air Bags coming? (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=67182)

Lote 10-05-2015 01:24 PM

Air bags saved us
 
In 2012, my wife and I were in a collision at 50 mph impact speed. A van ran a stop sign and pulled across in front of us on a rural highway. We were in a 2007 Accord wearing our seat belts and shoulder harnesses. The front end of our car hit the side of the van maybe 15 degrees off the perpendicular. There was a tremendous bang and our car spun around, essentially destroyed from the A pillars forward. I briefly lost consciousness and came to sitting in the wrecked vehicle. The airbags functioned as designed, as did the crush area in the engine compartment.

Result--no fractures. Mild concussions. Many bruises and abrasions. Sprained ribs. Knees impacted the knee bolster causing knee injuries to both of us, mine temporary, hers more serious.

Before air bags, even with seat belts and shoulder harnesses, I am sure we would have been dead or at least disabled.

I like the idea of retrofitting air bags to my RV-6A. I need to find a way to recover the six pounds from somewhere else first. Maybe I'll switch to one of the new lithium batteries once I feel they are safe.

LeRoy Johnston RV-6A Esperanza 980 hours.

BlackhawkSP 10-05-2015 02:40 PM

Airbags in homebuilts
 
Whatever is installed, the sensors logic to fire the bags will have to be thoroughly researched and tested. Some of the Army's first "Mike" model Blackhawks had side airbags. Some deployed during routine slope landings (definitely attention getting during a landing !!) and the systems I think were disabled & removed. I'd be worried of deployments when not needed, like rough landings, turbulence, and the like.

tfoster100 10-05-2015 07:47 PM

Prospective Builder
 
I hope to build soon and some type of SRS/airbag is high on my list of required options. Seems hard to argue with the additional safety this technology brings. I Hope AMsafe and others keep pushing forward with development.


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