Pietenpol-List: seat belts/harness
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:48 am
Original Posted By: harvey rule
Ken,I guess we all have our little "hang-ups" and safety harness is one of mine. I'veprobably overengineered mine, but with that panel so close to my face, itgives me more peace of mind.I've fashioned a glass seat bottom with a scoop for my rump which is not only muchmore comfortable, it also drops me down almost two inches into the cockpit.Now, if I run the harness out the top of the turtle deck, the angle is rightand would minimize any spine compression, which is a possibility if the harnessoriginates much lower than one's shoulders.I welded up a very light tubular pylon that mounts just inside the turtle deck,to which my harness bolts. Then a cable runs from that bolt, back to the tailskidmounting area.If I remember correctly, the pilot's seat belt bolts through both the verticalmember with some ash blocking.The passenger seat belt bolts through the bottom crossmember and through the metalstrap that runs between gear fittings on the bottom of the fuse.I am planning on snapping my passenger's harness to the rear X bracing (rods inmy case), as this should spread any load between many fittings, but we'll seeif my inspector lets it go. That's a really hard spot to find a good anchor.I do have some shots and drawings somewhere from England of a pretty nice Pietinstallation. you'd have to plan very early since it really must be fittedwhile the fuse is in the works. if you want, email me and I'll TRY to find them.Douwedouweblumberg(at)earthlink.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:49:14 -0500
Ken,I guess we all have our little "hang-ups" and safety harness is one of mine. I'veprobably overengineered mine, but with that panel so close to my face, itgives me more peace of mind.I've fashioned a glass seat bottom with a scoop for my rump which is not only muchmore comfortable, it also drops me down almost two inches into the cockpit.Now, if I run the harness out the top of the turtle deck, the angle is rightand would minimize any spine compression, which is a possibility if the harnessoriginates much lower than one's shoulders.I welded up a very light tubular pylon that mounts just inside the turtle deck,to which my harness bolts. Then a cable runs from that bolt, back to the tailskidmounting area.If I remember correctly, the pilot's seat belt bolts through both the verticalmember with some ash blocking.The passenger seat belt bolts through the bottom crossmember and through the metalstrap that runs between gear fittings on the bottom of the fuse.I am planning on snapping my passenger's harness to the rear X bracing (rods inmy case), as this should spread any load between many fittings, but we'll seeif my inspector lets it go. That's a really hard spot to find a good anchor.I do have some shots and drawings somewhere from England of a pretty nice Pietinstallation. you'd have to plan very early since it really must be fittedwhile the fuse is in the works. if you want, email me and I'll TRY to find them.Douwedouweblumberg(at)earthlink.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 09:49:14 -0500