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NASA Tests Flying Airbag

Posted by samzenpus on from the drop-the-cloud-anchor dept.

coondoggie writes "NASA is looking to reduce the deadly impact of helicopter crashes on their pilots and passengers with what the agency calls a high-tech honeycomb airbag known as a deployable energy absorber. So in order to test out its technology NASA dropped a small helicopter from a height of 35 feet to see whether its deployable energy absorber, made up of an expandable honeycomb cushion, could handle the stress. The test crash hit the ground at about 54MPH at a 33 degree angle, what NASA called a relatively severe helicopter crash."

3 of 118 comments (clear)

  1. A flying airbag is whatcha get... by macraig · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... when you strap my mother-in-law to a turbine engine. The rest of the plane is optional.

  2. Re:This is a great development by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 3, Funny

    Be the first one on your block to have Personal Interceptor Missiles! Now available with micro-nukes for those neighbors that just won't turn the music down when asked.

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  3. Re:Apparently NASA does not obey the laws of physi by 19thNervousBreakdown · · Score: 4, Funny

    Just put weights in it, duh.

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