Thanks, Re-Entry & SNS3Guppy,
I'm used to fibreglass ( which I think may be getting confused with here ) & the various lay-up techniques, epoxies & load-spreading mats & rovings, but what really concerns me about carbon fibre is, it can LOOK fine, but be shattered / delaminated inside, and is basically a brittle material.
In a crude way I would from observation describe carbon fibre as a 'dry' material - after all it's baked -, with glass reinforced plastics ( fibreglass ) being 'wet' and more forgiving ( and heavy ) , though there are obviously similarities ...
Re. the chap complaining about 'crash-worthiness', we all know it's a moot point whether most, say, airliner crashes are survivable; I don't fancy being in amongst mangled alloy, but I can't see carbon fibre offering any energy absorbtion at all, just shattering.
DZ