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"Of course, you have to remember that these are the same people who believe a lap belt is suitable to protect folks in a 140 knot crash landing....just sayin'...." EVERYTHING in an airplane is a trade-off. An airplane that was 100% crash impact safe would not be able to fly.
Of course, but I was simply pointing out that some of the things the FAA thinks are "OK" or "just fine" aren't backed up by science that wasn't relegated to the dustbin for any other group around the time the Marines were trying to hold the perimeter around Pusan. Lap belts are a marginal answer but a horizontal chest strap is going to probably cause more trouble than it's worth.
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So our airplanes might be stronger than you think in a crash, and those flimsy looking belts might work good enough, although a little luck certainly helps. That Mong hit the ground going well over 140mph. The desert was very forgiving that morning.
I think I remember hearing about that crash or one very similar. Most airplanes are/can be made more than strong enough to survive even a 150 knot impact. That is an excellent example of it. The best one I have witnessed personally was a Mooney that came to a stop from about 100 knots in less than the length of the plane. I was the first EMT on the scene. The pilot and all passengers were out and started walking towards us. I asked if they were hurt. The pilot responded with "I need to replace my pants and need some help removing the seat cushion from my ***. That landing involved some serious pucker factor". I am a big believer that any crash you can walk, crawl or be dragged away from in a reparable condition is a good one.