Another SR22

Stefan writes:

And this is exactly the dangerous mindset.

Agreed. The safe way to fly is as if the parachute didn't exist. You
only pull the parachute when the alternative would be death. If you
are thinking about the parachute all the time, it might make you
reckless.

You see the same thing with antiskid braking systems. People know
they are there and assume that the systems will always stop them
safely, even in slippery conditions. What they overlook is that the
systems don't change the minimum stopping distances--they just help
ensure that those minimums are achievable. If the car can't stop
before hitting the tree, antiskid braking won't help.

--
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Mxsmanic wrote:
What they overlook is that the systems don't change the minimum
stopping distances--they just help ensure that those minimums are
achievable. If the car can't stop
before hitting the tree, antiskid braking won't help.


You're half right here. It's true ABS won't shorten stopping distances,
unless you can singlehandedly alter physics. What it does do is allow
you to maintain steering control while in a panic stop by not locking
up the wheels

"Kingfish" wrote in message
ups.com...
You're half right here. It's true ABS won't shorten stopping distances,
unless you can singlehandedly alter physics. What it does do is allow
you to maintain steering control while in a panic stop by not locking
up the wheels

Actually, depending on the conditions, having ABS allows the maximum
available braking performance to actually be achieved. Few drivers (or
pilots) are actually capable of using the brakes to maximum effectiveness
without ABS. They either don't brake hard enough, or they brake so hard
that the wheels lock up and lose control.

You're right that it's also useful (and IMHO most important, as far as ABS
features go) to be able to maintain steering control. But ABS also can
allow for nearly maximal performance during braking as well.

So while ABS doesn't change the *theoretical* minimum stopping distance, it
does change the practical minimum stopping distance for most drivers.

Pete

In article ,
Peter Duniho wrote:

Actually, depending on the conditions, having ABS allows the maximum
available braking performance to actually be achieved. Few drivers (or
pilots) are actually capable of using the brakes to maximum effectiveness
without ABS. They either don't brake hard enough, or they brake so hard
that the wheels lock up and lose control.

I saw a show years ago when ABS was just becoming widely available
where they put Emerson Fittapaldi (then a current IndyCar driver)
with ABS, and did braking tests with and without the ABS. Even a
professional race car driver couldn't do better then the ABS,
although he came close to matching it.

John
--
John Clear - http://www.clear-prop.org/

Peter Duniho writes:

So while ABS doesn't change the *theoretical* minimum stopping distance, it
does change the practical minimum stopping distance for most drivers.

Unfortunately, most drivers don't know the minimum stopping distance
to begin with, and dramatically underestimate it, or simply choose to
ignore the correct distance for convenience. ABS often will not help
them, unless they get lucky.

--
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Mxsmanic,

Unfortunately, most drivers don't know the minimum stopping distance
to begin with, and dramatically underestimate it, or simply choose to
ignore the correct distance for convenience.


I just have to ask: Do you hold a driver's license?

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Kingfish writes:

You're half right here. It's true ABS won't shorten stopping distances,
unless you can singlehandedly alter physics. What it does do is allow
you to maintain steering control while in a panic stop by not locking
up the wheels

But very often the obstacle to be avoided is directly ahead of the
car. And any attempt to turn the vehicle in a panic stop greatly
increases safe braking distance (because wheels that turn are much
more likely to skid or lock).

--
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