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.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. SDC

    SDC Formula Junior

    Oct 13, 2006
    454
    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

    May 12, 2007
    26,826
    England North West
    Full Name:
    Steve
    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

    Aug 2, 2009
    564
    The Track
    Full Name:
    Waterfall
    ****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

    Oct 3, 2002
    49,817
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    Excellent point!
     
  5. SDC

    SDC Formula Junior

    Oct 13, 2006
    454
    +100000000
     
  6. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2006
    5,018
    Andreas, please don't feed the troll.
     
  7. jmillard308

    jmillard308 F1 Veteran
    Owner

    May 29, 2003
    6,687
    Perth West Oz
    Full Name:
    John Millard
    When were Cosworth engines forced on all teams??? :confused:
     
  8. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

    Sep 25, 2006
    23,397
    Campbell, CA
    Full Name:
    Ian Anderson
    Please see previous post.......
     
  9. SDC

    SDC Formula Junior

    Oct 13, 2006
    454
    All the new teams were forced to have Cosworth engines or their bid would be rejected!
     
  10. Bas

    Bas Four Time F1 World Champ

    Mar 24, 2008
    43,052
    ESP
    Full Name:
    Bas
    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

    Oct 3, 2002
    49,817
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    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

    Mar 16, 2002
    13,337
    Ex-Urbia
    Full Name:
    Jack
    That's a solid argument.
     
  13. Natan Tazelaar

    Natan Tazelaar Formula Junior

    Mar 30, 2006
    266
    Netherlands; Texas USA
    Full Name:
    Natan Tazelaar
  14. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    49,817
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
  15. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator
    Moderator

    Oct 1, 2008
    40,215
    Huntsville, AL., USA
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    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

    Nov 26, 2003
    7,867
    #91 DeSoto, Nov 24, 2011
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2011

    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.
     
  17. marioz

    marioz Formula 3

    Nov 21, 2003
    2,025
    Cedar Mills,Ontario
    Full Name:
    Mario
    What's next??

    Remote controlled race cars.

    That would be really safe.
     
  18. DeSoto

    DeSoto F1 Veteran

    Nov 26, 2003
    7,867
    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

    Mar 30, 2006
    266
    Netherlands; Texas USA
    Full Name:
    Natan Tazelaar
    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

    Oct 3, 2002
    49,817
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    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

    Oct 1, 2008
    40,215
    Huntsville, AL., USA
    Full Name:
    Andrew
    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

    Oct 3, 2002
    49,817
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    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

    Nov 26, 2003
    7,867
    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

    Nov 4, 2003
    70
    LA
    #99 Estranged, Nov 25, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    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
     
  25. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Oct 3, 2002
    49,817
    @ the wheel
    Full Name:
    Andreas
    #100 tifosi12, Nov 25, 2011
    Last edited: Nov 25, 2011
    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.
     

Share This Page