. Heck, I don't even want an air bomb in my car!
I've often thought about "explosive devices" such as BSR chutes, and airbags............and if they were to go off prematurely. Just imagine an airbag in an airplane doing it's thing, when it isn't supposed too!
But five weeks ago, yesterday, I slammed straight into a good sized deer at 60 mph on my motorcycle, in the middle of the day. D##n, I sure would have liked some kind of a handle bar airbag!!!!!!!!!!! It's no fun as the mind races through a thought pattern in a split of a second, and wondering if this is your last second of mortality. And my mind did just that! After impact, the world & time did appear to slow down, as we often hear in accidents. It seemed like forever, to decelerate as I scraped along the highway for 50 yards. Thankfully, I had a full face helmet, but no leathers.
I read the NTSB reports as they come out three times a week, and all the followups which can be six to twelve months later. Without doubt, there are many cases, in which a ballistic chute could be a save. You can go to great lengths to minimize risk, but the best way is just to stay on the ground. However, I prefer the beauty of mountain landscapes from a higher viewpoint; and fly single engine, knowing the statistics are favorable for the prop to keep turning.
But there is always going to be that chance of a once in a lifetime event, where odds are not in your favor. Therefore, I believe that it will always be better to have a ballistic chute than not. Same goes for airbags & other protective devices. That second of life might come along in which your mind say's "jeeze I wish I had this !". You just never know..........until your turn comes up.
L.Adamson --- RV6A