Too bad we have to worry about even having ELTs. If we can concentrate on developing our aircraft with slower, more survivable landing speeds, then the correct radio could be used once on the ground to contact the ham guys to come and get us. We may have to give up some top speed to have a lot slower landing airplane but the trade off might be more comforting while flying over hostile terrain. Then there is the airframe failure, landing speed does not matter, a parachute would be ones only chance. I suppose a parachute like the Cirrus incorporates would be another thing to consider. I do know we have discussed that before so go take a look at the opinions on that subject in the archives. I have noticed the hills and trees below your airplane Mark L in those beautiful flying photos. LOL Around my area there are a lot of flat fields but when flying west the terrain gets bad, fly east and miles and miles of forests. I would rather land at 30 miles per hour in trees or rough terrain than 50 or 60 mph. Maybe then I might still be able to call for help or walk away. Someone might know but the human body can only take so much, so each 10 mph we can slow landing speed will increase our chances of survivability. A passer by landed here on my airport 15 or 20 years ago. He was flying a Cessna 182 and had come here from the Denver CO area to sell his 182 to a broker. I took him to my house and offered for him to stay with us but he wanted to go to a motel. I took him for dinner and then to the motel and picked him up the next day and spent the day with him. We became friends and stayed in touch, we wrote regularly. He was building a T18 and was really excited about it. One day when I checked my mail box, there was a letter with his return address but it wasn't in his handwriting as usual. I knew immediately before opening the envelope that he had been killed. His wife wrote me the letter telling of how he got the T18 ready and on one of the first few flights, his engine quit just after takeoff. Because of the hostile terrain around there, no place was available for him to safely land. At the speed he had to maintain in order to prevent a stall, there just was no chance for him to survive. Stories like this is what makes me wonder why we do not take more time to explore lower landing speeds. I am just as bad as anyone at wanting to have a, as fast as possible, airplane but it only takes one miscue to have our wife writing that letter. As my mother used to tell us while learning to drive and pulling out into traffic, "just take your time, because you have a lot more time than lives".
Larry Howell ________________________________
