Australia's Department of Defence announced on October 7 that the Royal Australian Mint's Bright Ideas collection would include a coin honoring the flight recorder invented by David Warren. The collection goes on sale October 8 and also recognizes inventions including wireless networking and an infant safety capsule.
Warren developed his concept while working on investigations into de Havilland Comet accidents in the 1950s. He proposed recording flight data and cockpit voices continuously and built a prototype to demonstrate the idea. Modern recorders help investigators reconstruct accidents and improve aircraft design and procedures. The coin commemorates that contribution to aviation safety; it does not introduce a new aircraft-equipment requirement.
