Pete Schaefer wrote:
"Ernest Christley" wrote in message
om...

Does it have to be labeled "Crumple Zone" to work?


A crumple zone is a pretty specific type of structure. It's a technical
term.


Technical terms have definitions, and believe it or not, I can read.
You can step off the high horse, 'cause we're all human here. If you've
got a definition that will change the definition from what I've stated,
then put it out there. You're liable to teach a whole lot of people a
thing or two, including myself. I've offered a simple, workable
definition below.


It's especially easy to see in Tom Bauer's red and white Delta on the
bottom. There is about 18" of steel and fiberglass that has to crumple


That's unlikey to be a crumple zone. If you guys are just going to randomly
refer to anything outside the cockpit as a crumple zone, then there's no
basis for communication here.


Well, hell. I didn't mean for you to get your technical panties is a
wad. Anything outside the cockpit IS a crumple zone if

1) it gets between you and the hardstuff, and
2) it's not so strong that you break before it does

By this definition, if something extreme happens and you somehow come
down backwards, landing on your tail with the nose straight up, then the
whole aft fuselage becomes a crumple zone.


A zone of material that has to crumple before outside objects get to
you, ie, a crumple zone.


Please don't make up definitions on your own for technical stuff. It just
confuses everyone.


Whew!! The snots flying now!

Uh. Excuse me. This IS r.a.h. you know. Making up our own definitions
is what we do best.


Do you have to know the exact amount of energy the object will absorb
before deciding that you're safer with than without?


It's about quantifying a benefit. How much benefit -vs- how much weight,
etc. Do the math and make the design decision.


Uh. Excuse me again. There is NO weight added. You've just put part
of the structure that has to be there anyway between yourself and
obstacles. It's stuff that crumples, and it's in a zone (around here,
we call it "The Stuff to the Front and Side of Daddy Zone", careful I
have that phrase copyrighted, possibly trademark, and I'm gonna talk to
a lawyer about a patent), therefore it's a crumple zone.


landing, with all other things being equal (they never are though) the
Delta would be safER with it's crumple zone than the typical
conventional GA aircraft, and it cost nothing in additional weight,
labor or money. You don't have to spend millions as you claim to prove
the obvious.


Obvious? I call that speculation without a shred of evidence to support it.

Nope no evidence whatsoever, and I'm not about to go out and bend up a
bunch of perfectly good, expensive and increasingly scarce 1" 4130 steel
tube to prove that it absorbs a lot of energy as it's bending.



Maybe we should define what we're talking about. In my simplistic view,
a crumple zone is "stuff that breaks, so you don't have to".


There is a ton of good technical info on crumple zones as used in automotive
design. Instead of pulling stuff out of your butt, go look it up.


Look at all the technical info you want. A zone that crumples. It's
self defining. I don't need a self styled expert to tell me that I'm
safer if I have something other than me to absorb the impact energy.


field cause you blew a jug, how will the AOA indicator help with that
tree that's getting awfully close?


An AOA indicator will help you to precisely select a best-glide speed,
giving you more time and more options.



OK, you've had a perfect glide into the only field in the valley as you
tried to cross the mountain. You're just below the treetops, and the
end of the field is coming quick. How many options will the indicator
give you?

Besides, that's what the airspeed indicator is for.

--
http://www.ernest.isa-geek.org/
"Ignorance is mankinds normal state,
alleviated by information and experience."
Veeduber