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The Hans functions differently than an airbag - the purpose of the Hans is to maintain a certain angle between the head (think chin) and body (think chest) of the driver in a severe impact. It transfers load that would bend a helmeted driver's head quickly towards their chest, hyperextending the back of the neck (basil skull fracture territory) as a direct result of the kinematics of a driver wearing a harness and therefore only having the head/neck available to move. The reason it exists is to "manage" the driver's head, and head alone, in a crash.Airbag - if you're wearing a 5 or 6 point belt (I'd assume you have a harness bar in your NSX) the airbag isn't likely to reach you - and since its designed to step in where the 3 point belt, which, by definition, doesn't hold the driver as well as a 5-6 point and therefore allows forward movement, may or may not even be able to touch your head let alone manage your head's angle - an all of this assume you're hitting pretty much head on - which is unlikely.If you have any type of offset crash the airbag is going to do little for your neck if you're strapped into a 5-6 point - the HANS will.I think equating the two as having similar functions on the track is like comparing your car to a horse - they both have similar functions too!:tongue:
The Hans functions differently than an airbag - the purpose of the Hans is to maintain a certain angle between the head (think chin) and body (think chest) of the driver in a severe impact. It transfers load that would bend a helmeted driver's head quickly towards their chest, hyperextending the back of the neck (basil skull fracture territory) as a direct result of the kinematics of a driver wearing a harness and therefore only having the head/neck available to move. The reason it exists is to "manage" the driver's head, and head alone, in a crash.
Airbag - if you're wearing a 5 or 6 point belt (I'd assume you have a harness bar in your NSX) the airbag isn't likely to reach you - and since its designed to step in where the 3 point belt, which, by definition, doesn't hold the driver as well as a 5-6 point and therefore allows forward movement, may or may not even be able to touch your head let alone manage your head's angle - an all of this assume you're hitting pretty much head on - which is unlikely.
If you have any type of offset crash the airbag is going to do little for your neck if you're strapped into a 5-6 point - the HANS will.
I think equating the two as having similar functions on the track is like comparing your car to a horse - they both have similar functions too!:tongue:
