20 May 2003 17:59
so this week i'm spending my time in north dakota with a group of extremely grown up and professional pilots. we've been learning all sorts of things. for instance, yesterday in the midst of north dakota's welcoming 30ยบ wind chill, three of us were huddling in the cockpit of a cessna 172, struggling to seek shelter from the lovely conditions outside. we did discover that it's nigh on impossible to get the seatbelts to lock when you're leaning forward. even violent rocking back and forth, stopping just short of the instrument panel, slamming back, then shooting forward again doesn't do it. after making ourselves look rather "professional" with this dramatic demonstration of aircraft testing, i divulged to my colleges that aircraft seatbelts are designed to catch you on the second bounce, not the first (twins, don't tell mom this). apparently, catching a crash victim on the first bounce would inhibit cockpit movement too much, because the seat belts would be constantly locking up. makes sense no? after all, we don't really need to have the seatbelt catch us, it's just there to keep the safety do-gooders happy.17:59 email me permalink / commentary (0)
