# Black Box Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-box-question/81666>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 14, 2001, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-box-question/81666 "2001-09-14T19:11:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hartwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@Hartwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hartwell)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-box-question/81666/1 "2001-09-14T19:11:01Z")

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This question has been nagging at me for the last day or so. I know that this question long ago became the cliched joke of stand-up comedians (or comediannes), but I have never heard an honest answer. Why, if the black box is able to withstand intense heat and impact, aren’t planes (or cars, trains, boats, etc.) made with similar materials and to the same specifications?

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**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-box-question/81666/2 "2001-09-14T19:15:51Z")

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Welcome to the Straight Dope! This topic has been covered several times over the past few days, as well as being addressed by the Master himself. It’s become a cliche, but hte search function is your friend.

On 9/12/2001:[Anyone know much about black boxes?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=86711)  
On 9/13/2001: [black boxes](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=86568)  
Cecil: [If aircraft “black boxes” are indestructible, why can’t the whole plane be made from the same material?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_001.html)

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**Author:** ![Hartwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@Hartwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hartwell)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-box-question/81666/3 "2001-09-14T19:18:04Z")

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I realize now that this might have been answered already in the past by The Straight Dope, but I could not find it in the archive list.

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-box-question/81666/4 "2001-09-14T20:45:47Z")

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Technology similar to that which protects black boxes is in use in buildings. Tornado- and hurricane-resistant rooms are popular in new structures built in areas where a basement is not an option.

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**Author:** ![MIKE\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MIKE\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MIKE_P)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-box-question/81666/5 "2001-09-14T23:13:17Z")

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If I remember correctly,the Chevrolet Corvette has a black box.