FIA tests fighter-jet canopy for Formula 1 | Page 4 | FerrariChat

FIA tests fighter-jet canopy for Formula 1

Discussion in 'F1' started by SDC, Jul 17, 2011.

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  1. SDC

    SDC Formula Junior

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    Todt: He is torn between his loyalty to Ferrari and trying to establish his son / family into the web of British nepotism that controls autosport.

    Canopy: I know you are against it. But just like Cosworth (British) engines being forced on all teams and Mclaren (British) ECUs being forced on all teams.... The British Canopies are coming too. It is a clear indication of how British nepotism has ruined this sport.
     
  2. kraftwerk

    kraftwerk Two Time F1 World Champ

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    Hello Mr I have learnt a new word so I will wear it out.

    Nobody is forcing you to watch F1, so do yourself a favour and don't watch it.. it's that simple .... saves your head exploding as well, a win win :D
     
  3. NWaterfall

    NWaterfall Formula Junior

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    ****POSSIBLE HUNGARY GP SPOILER BELOW********






















    **********************************************************




    Think Heidfeld wished he was in an enclosed cockpit???
     
  4. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Excellent point!
     
  5. SDC

    SDC Formula Junior

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    +100000000
     
  6. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

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    Andreas, please don't feed the troll.
     
  7. jmillard308

    jmillard308 F1 Veteran Owner

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    When were Cosworth engines forced on all teams??? :confused:
     
  8. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

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    Please see previous post.......
     
  9. SDC

    SDC Formula Junior

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    All the new teams were forced to have Cosworth engines or their bid would be rejected!
     
  10. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

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    What if a car rolls and the canopy won't open, but the car is also on fire (a la Heidfelt). When flipping a car over they always have to be very careful in case a vertebrae slips and paralyses the driver. Or worse, if they can't get to the car because of the fire and stuff, driver suffocates (even quicker because of the stupid canopy).

    I'm still against the canopy and probably always will. It may be saver in some ways, but it's only VERY rare instances that anything like a Massa or Surtees accident would have happened.

    A boxer knows that every blow to the head could go *VERY* wrong. A racing driver KNOWS the sport is dangerous and can potentially kill you. Why do we do it? It's fun. Your mind LOVES danger.
     
  11. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    The canopy probably would prevent a Massa or Surtees like accident, but the risk of trapping the driver is real:

    In an accident, the hold down mechanism for the canopy could get deformed and therefore not release the canopy when needed. The comparison with a fighter jet is false: A fighter jet normally doesn't endure the kind of mechanical deformations a F1 car undergoes when things go wrong, therefore a fighter pilot can normally eject. Not the case for F1 cars.

    And before somebody brings up a comparison with trapped drivers in endurance racing cars: I'd think that the canopy of a F1 would have to be a lot stronger than the windshield in a Le Mans car, which a driver could probably kick out with his feet if necessary. If it wasn't stronger, it wouldn't hold up against a flying tire. And: A F1 driver would only have his bare fists to break it, which seems unlikely.

    I'm 100% against the canopy from a purist/idealistic point as it has no business in F1. But even from a more practical/technical perspective I think this creates as much risk as it is trying to mitigate.
     
  12. Gilles27

    Gilles27 F1 World Champ

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    That's a solid argument.
     
  13. Natan Tazelaar

    Natan Tazelaar Formula Junior

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  14. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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  15. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator Moderator

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    Wow, that does look good! :D

    I don't know... an enclosed cockpit would help clean up the aerodynamics. I can't say I'd be too aghast if future F1 cars looked like that. :)

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
  16. DeSoto

    DeSoto F1 Veteran

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    If you don´t like the windshield in a F1 car for aesthetical or historical reasons, it´s OK. Personally I´m not sure if I like it or not. But we can´t try to justify our opinion with weird safety concerns.

    A sports-car driver can´t kick the windshield out either and lately nobody has died trapped in the car. I don´t know how thick those windscreens are, but the problem is not the strenght of the windshield, but the lack of space. The driver just can´t rise the legs to kick the windscreen with ease. But I don´t know why he would want to do that, as there are doors in both sides of the car.

    Of course, in a weird accident someone could get trapped inside the car, but many people said the same thing about seat belts years ago and nobody wants to drive without them today. And what if someone gets trapped inside car? How many wild fires have you seen in Formula 1 lately? Yes, the medical assitance would get to the driver a bit later, but it´s a small price to pay for avoiding the risks of open cockpits.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2011
  17. marioz

    marioz Formula 3

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    What's next??

    Remote controlled race cars.

    That would be really safe.
     
  18. DeSoto

    DeSoto F1 Veteran

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    OK, let´s suppose that motor racing has to be dangerous to be a real sport.

    But how much dangerous?

    1950 levels? Remove seat belts and helmets?

    1960 levels? Remove armco barriers from all circuits? Plant trees in gravel traps?

    1980 levels? Remove composite chassis?

    Even with a canopy, driving a Formula 1 is going to be a dangerous activity. Less than in 1950, but more than in 2050.
     
  19. Natan Tazelaar

    Natan Tazelaar Formula Junior

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    Or just give all the drivers an X-Box. That would cut down their budgets too ;)

    Natan Tazelaar
     
  20. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    It's not that the added risk of open cockpits is why I prefer them but because you no longer will see the driver once they close the cockpit like this.
     
  21. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator Moderator

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    Well... to be fair, you don't see much of the driver now - just the colour of his helmet as he streaks past at 190mph.

    Perhaps if they enclosed the cockpit, they'd be able to put cameras inside to look at the driver's eyes. That might be nice to see on the action replays. :)

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
  22. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Not really true: For the most part the grandstands are near turns and chicanes and you have a good clear view of the drivers' helmet. Just as you see it on TV. Once you put a canopy over that you won't be able to tell the difference anymore and you don't see what the driver is doing (like e.g. turn his head to look into the mirrors etc).
     
  23. DeSoto

    DeSoto F1 Veteran

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    With a single piece transparent canopy, you would be able to see the driver almost as clearly as now.
     
  24. Estranged

    Estranged Karting Silver Subscribed

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    Exactly, I don't get the argument that people won't be able to see the drivers. Think of the Pope Mobile.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  25. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Your picture makes my point:

    Look at the Pope: He is in the shade and "foggy" through the thick glass. Without the glass you'd see him as clearly as the security guy in the front.

    And lets not even talk about the driver of the Popemobile: Can you even spot him?

    As soon as they put up the canopies there will be less light illuminating the driver and there will be sunlight reflections further disturbing the view of the driver. And all that for what?

    How many F1 drivers of the recent history (as in the last 20 years) have been hit/wounded on the head?

    PS: I saw the Pope in Rome in an open vehicle. It was a lot more intense as a connection and rewarding for us in the audience. That was one month before the attack.
     
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2011

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