Avalanche Air Bags tested in British Columbia (PICS)

**WARY** · 02-03-2011, 11:18 AM

We just returned from Revelstoke, British Columbia where we tested avalanche air bags in avalanches.

Here is a typical test. The two life sized dummies with red airbags are in the center of the photos.

**WARY** · 02-03-2011, 11:22 AM

..............

**WARY** · 02-03-2011, 11:25 AM

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

**WARY** · 02-03-2011, 11:28 AM

-------------------

**WARY** · 02-03-2011, 11:32 AM

Here's the helicopter over the air bags......

We always seem to find the avalanche air bags near the edge of the uphill flank of the avalanches.

**Arno** · 02-03-2011, 11:36 AM

any other observations? any instances of failure?

as usual, I enjoy your pics of blowing shit up and setting off big slides

**WARY** · 02-03-2011, 11:37 AM

We used life sized crash test dummies, and one of them was decapitated during a test.

**WARY** · 02-03-2011, 11:40 AM

This is never good.

The dummies weigh in at 175 pounds when dressed. The head is empty but the torso is full of metal ball bearings.

**WARY** · 02-03-2011, 11:51 AM

We ran several tests, and the air bags were all found on the surface after the avalanche, however, one air bag that was found on the surface had been destroyed.

Looking downhill.....

Here you can see how the air bags seem to seek the edge of the avalanche.......

You can see the head of the dummy at the lower right corner of the air bag......

**WARY** · 02-03-2011, 11:53 AM

Thanks to Peter Kimmel of Incline Research, Tom Riley, Brent Strand of the Canadian Avalanche Association, and as always Chris Hrabb of Selkirk Mountain Helicopters.

**mud** · 02-03-2011, 11:58 AM

Did the gopro survive?
Would really like to see that pov.

**Sphinx15** · 02-03-2011, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by mud

Did the gopro survive?
Would really like to see that pov.

X2

stupid character count

**shredGenius** · 02-03-2011, 03:10 PM

Well that was pretty crazy. gopro for sure.

**good4nothing** · 02-03-2011, 04:39 PM

Nice Mustache.

What kind of plastic are the dummy heads made from? (wondering about cold-induced brittleness & head explosion).
I love seeing your posts, great in developing awareness of this technology.

**Summit** · 02-03-2011, 11:01 PM

For the record, WARI has been doing these test for years and their products are found in the AviVest and the new Mystery Ranch Blackjack.

And 3X on post the Go-Pro!!!

**jSki** · 02-04-2011, 12:24 AM

Good stuff. It's been great following your companies progress over the years and seeing the tests.

Just thought about this the other day, but has anyone ever considered having a loud horn sound when you pull the trigger? It would communicate with your partners instantly that you're in a slide and they could act accordingly. Haven't thought at all about pros/cons, just an idea.

**snowshepherd** · 02-04-2011, 06:33 AM

any theroy yet as to why the airbags come to rest at the edge of the avalanche? is it just that the increased volume rather than mass equation comes into play??