Why dont they?

Question

If the "black box" flight recorder is never damaged during a plane
crash, why isn't the whole airplane made out of that stuff?

I am genuinley curious, if that material is as "indestructable" as they say surely this could save many lives?

What gets me is how rude the majority of you are...I'm pretty new to this and havent seen this question posted, if i had I wouldnt have asked it...

If you dont like it, why bloody answer it?

Answer 1

This is an enigma, wrapped in a riddle tied up in a puzzle... they should wrap the aircraft in another black box, inside another 'plane.. it's a thinker, I'll give y'that.. you weirdo!

Answer 2

AAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not this question again.

The black boxes (which are of course safety orange with reflective stripes) are very often DESTROYED in crashes. They are made to try and protect the components inside in an accident so that the recordings can be salvaged. They are by no means indestructable, but they are bulky and heavy and a whole airplane of this manufacture would never get off the ground.

Answer 3

The flight data recorder (FDR) is a flight recorder used to record specific aircraft performance parameters. A separate device is the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), although some recent types combine both in one unit. Popularly, though almost always falsely, known as the black box used for aircraft mishap analysis, the FDR is also used to study air safety issues, material degradation, and jet engine performance. These ICAO regulated "black box" devices are often used as an aid in investigating aircraft mishap, and these devices are typically one of the highest priorities for recovery after a crash, second only to bodies of victims. The device's shroud is usually painted bright orange and is generally located in the tail section of the aircraft.

Answer 4

CSMU>>>crash-survivable memory units

Using three layers of materials, the CSMU in a solid-state black box insulates and protects the stack of memory boards that store the digitized information.

Aluminum housing - There is a thin layer of aluminum around the stack of memory cards.
High-temperature insulation - This dry-silica material is 1 inch (2.54 cm) thick and provides high-temperature thermal protection. This is what keeps the memory boards safe during post-accident fires.

Stainless-steel shell- The high-temperature insulation material is contained within a stainless-steel cast shell that is about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) thick. Titanium can be used to create this outer armor as well.

Testing a CSMU
To ensure the quality and survivability of black boxes, manufacturers thoroughly test the CSMUs. Remember, only the CSMU has to survive a crash -- if accident investigators have that, they can retrieve the information they need. In order to test the unit, engineers load data onto the memory boards inside the CSMU. L-3 Communications uses a random pattern to put data onto every memory board. This pattern is reviewed on readout to determine if any of the data has been damaged by crash impact, fires or pressure.
There are several tests that make up the crash-survival sequence:

Crash impact - Researchers shoot the CSMU down an air cannon to create an impact of 3,400 Gs (1 G is the force of Earth's gravity, which determines how much something weighs). At 3,400 Gs, the CSMU hits an aluminum, honeycomb target at a force equal to 3,400 times its weight. This impact force is equal to or in excess of what a recorder might experience in an actual crash.

Pin drop - To test the unit's penetration resistance, researchers drop a 500-pound (227-kg) weight with a 0.25-inch steel pin protruding from the bottom onto the CSMU from a height of 10 feet (3 m). This pin, with 500-pounds behind it, impacts the CSMU cylinder's most vulnerable axis.

Static crush - For five minutes, researchers apply 5,000 pounds per square-inch (psi) of crush force to each of the unit's six major axis points.

Fire test - Researchers place the unit into a propane-source fireball, cooking it using three burners. The unit sits inside the fire at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,100 C) for one hour. The FAA requires that all solid-state recorders be able to survive at least one hour at this temperature.

Deep-sea submersion - The CSMU is placed into a pressurized tank of salt water for 24 hours.

Salt-water submersion - The CSMU must survive in a salt water tank for 30 days.

Fluid immersion - Various CSMU components are placed into a variety of aviation fluids, including jet fuel, lubricants and fire-extinguisher chemicals

Like I hear you but that black box weighs a lot and has it's own purpose

Answer 5

I think it would make little difference.

Why, you may ask?

Consider the size difference. A black box is small with a recorder inside. A jet is a lot bigger with potentially explosive components in it. A black box does not.


Another question that I have for you:

Why is the black box called black when it is usually painted bright yellow or orange?

x-D

Answer 6

Actually, the black box is not that heavy, and they are international orange. They either contain a mylar tape, or are solid state memory devices.

They are built sturdy, but aren't made of lead. They also have a sonic beacon on them so they can be located in the water.

Answer 7

The plane would be too heavy to take off as it would be made of 6" thick lead.
Plus just because the black box survives doesn't mean that a mouse placed inside would. The impact would be fatal.

Answer 8

My week is not complete unless I see this question at least twice.

Okay. Short answers. One: Money.
Two: It would be too heavy & the amount of force necessary to get it off the ground would be a serious difficulty.

Essentially, it isn't cost effective, nor is it practical.

Answer 9

Black boxes do get damaged. Most of the time they are "useable" due to their placement on the aircraft, not because of what they are made of.

The material used to make them would make aircraft so heavy it would be next to impossible for them to fly.

Answer 10

The material is too heavy, the plane would never get off the ground.