Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Talk about airplanes! At last count, there are 39 (and growing) FAA certificated S-LSA (special light sport aircraft). These are factory-built ready to fly airplanes. If you can't afford a factory-built LSA, consider buying an E-LSA kit (experimental LSA - up to 99% complete).

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IFlyRC
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Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by IFlyRC »

I came across this article and I thought I'd share. (http://www.aviationpros.com/press_relea ... evelopment)

It sounds like they're making the technology available to anyone. Maybe we'll see some LSAs with a "safety box" in the near future.

EDIT: Sorry this might've been better in the safety section.
CTLSi
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by CTLSi »

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drseti
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by drseti »

CTLSi wrote: Many of those guys still don't have a BRS yet, or never will.
You are implying that any aircraft without BRS is somehow inferior. Segments of the marketplace might argue this. In fact, have you ever considered that the reason "those guys still don't have a BRS yet" might be that their particular customers don't want one?
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
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CTLSi
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by CTLSi »

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drseti
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by drseti »

CTLSi wrote:Why are cars not made like that anymore?
Oh, that's an easy one. It's because our evil, over-reaching government deprived our citizens of personal choice and individual liberty, by mandating federal safety standards. :wink:
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
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FastEddieB
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by FastEddieB »

CTLSi wrote:
Remember Volvo?
Remember SAAB?

Anyway, I suppose if you eschew seatbelts and helmets you probably need to be in a cage.
Fast Eddie B.
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IFlyRC
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by IFlyRC »

I like the idea of roll-over protection. The Astore has some bracing for the canopy, but I'm not sure how much of a difference that might make. It seems like the LSA category would be a prime candidate for implementing any safety advancements relatively quickly.
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by FastEddieB »

IFlyRC wrote:I like the idea of roll-over protection...It seems like the LSA category would be a prime candidate for implementing any safety advancements relatively quickly.
I think weight is a hurdle - but one that FD has overcome nicely.

I just assume if I ever "roll over" my Sky Arrow I'm toast. Karen in the back has some pretty good structure around her - me not so much.

Image

But so it goes - the view is worth the modicum of risk it entails - for me, anyway.
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Wm.Ince
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by Wm.Ince »

FastEddieB wrote: . . . "I think weight is a hurdle - but one that FD has overcome nicely." . . .
I have to slightly disagree, Eddie. The CTSW and CTLS passed over that hurdle, but IMHO, I think the CTLSi is too heavy for light sport. If all I wanted to carry was 20 gallons of fuel, I would have bought an RV-12.

Fuel injection and BRS recovery are good, but there is a penalty for having both or them. Weight.
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drseti
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by drseti »

So, the question is: will the marketplace accept the tradeoff of payload for safety? I guess we'll just have to weight and see. :wink:
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
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FastEddieB
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by FastEddieB »

Wm.Ince wrote:
FastEddieB wrote: . . . "I think weight is a hurdle - but one that FD has overcome nicely." . . .
I have to slightly disagree, Eddie. The CTSW and CTLS passed over that hurdle, but IMHO, I think the CTLSi is too heavy for light sport. If all I wanted to carry was 20 gallons of fuel, I would have bought an RV-12.

Fuel injection and BRS recovery are good, but there is a penalty for having both or them. Weight.
William,

I think my thinking is colored by owning a plane that weighed* about 860 empty without a chute, and with no "cage" that I can see. That makes FD's E/W numbers, though inexorably climbing with each new doodad, look pretty decent by comparison.


*Past tense because it's a tad lighter with its new lithium iron battery.
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dstclair
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by dstclair »

The Sting has always had a the cockpit enclosed by a roll cage.
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by sandpiper »

drseti wrote:So, the question is: will the marketplace accept the tradeoff of payload for safety? I guess we'll just have to weight and see. :wink:
You have many talents!! :D
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by sandpiper »

drseti wrote:So, the question is: will the marketplace accept the tradeoff of payload for safety? I guess we'll just have to weight and see. :wink:

Yellow was not the best highlight color.
John Horn
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CTLSi
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Re: Flight Design "Safety Box" & possible LSA Implications

Post by CTLSi »

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Last edited by CTLSi on Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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