05-25-2014, 08:53 AM
They have rocket propelled parachutes for small airplanes and they work pretty well. The problem with your idea is that you need the rocket(s) to propel the rider as well as the parachute. I've had some experience with military ejection seats and can see numerous problems trying something similar on a motorcycle. The least of those are that the rockets are heavy and bulky, and unless you were tightly strapped to your motorcycle seat it would probably take off without you. Designing a workable activation system would also be a tough nut to crack.
I have a friend that flies a civilian Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. The ejection system is so complicated and expensive to maintain that they disabled it.
About 30 years ago I was in an accident like you described. When I saw that impact was inevitable and also that the roof of the car was at eye level, I tried to straighten up on the pegs at impact. I just cleared the roof and landed about 75 ft. on the other side of the car. I had curled up in a ball and rolled another 50 ft. I ended up with scrapes, bruises, sprained ankle and some torn cartilage in my knee. I think I came out better than if I'd hit that Cadillac head first at 50 mph.
I have a friend that flies a civilian Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. The ejection system is so complicated and expensive to maintain that they disabled it.
About 30 years ago I was in an accident like you described. When I saw that impact was inevitable and also that the roof of the car was at eye level, I tried to straighten up on the pegs at impact. I just cleared the roof and landed about 75 ft. on the other side of the car. I had curled up in a ball and rolled another 50 ft. I ended up with scrapes, bruises, sprained ankle and some torn cartilage in my knee. I think I came out better than if I'd hit that Cadillac head first at 50 mph.