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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                                November 26, 1996




Board of Directors
Simula, Inc.
2700 North Central Avenue
Suite 1000
Phoenix, Arizona 85004

     Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 - 1,931,140 Shares of Common Stock

Gentlemen:

         As Vice President and General Counsel of Simula, Inc. ("Company"), I
have reviewed the above-captioned Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which the Company intends to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the offer and sale of up to
1,931,140 shares of Common Stock of the Company (the "Common Stock") pursuant to
the prospective conversion of the Company's Series C 10% Senior Subordinated
Convertible Notes into Common Stock, and to sales by certain Selling
Shareholders as identified in the Registration Statement (the "Securities").

         I have examined the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended and
restated, bylaws, minutes of the Company's Board of Directors meetings, the
Plan, and such other records and documents as I have deemed relevant for
purposes of rendering this opinion. Based upon the foregoing, I am of the
opinion that the Securities, when issued and sold as set forth in the
Registration Statement, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.


                                       Very truly yours,

                                       SIMULA, INC.



                                          /s/ Bradley P. Forst
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Bradley P. Forst
                                       Vice President and General Counsel

BPF/rn