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Spitfire Mk2 Sutton harnass question

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  • Member since
    April 2010
Spitfire Mk2 Sutton harnass question
Posted by Theuns on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 11:28 AM

I see the Sutton harnass used on the Spit Mk2 had a set of 2 shoulder straps that are joined together.
One end goes to the rear bulkhead with a cable but the other end seems to go between the pilot's back and the backrest padding on the seat but where would this attatch to the seat....on the joint between the seatpan and backrest?

Thanx

Theuns

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 11:49 AM

Are you talking about the lap belt portion of the harness? The shoulder portion are a "Y" strap that feeds over the seat top and thru the armor plate to an anchor point.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 11:57 AM

Anyways, your answer is here. The lap belt portion has anchor points on the outer side of the seat pan.

http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/the-sutton-harness-on-the-spitfire.html

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    April 2010
Posted by Theuns on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 12:22 PM

Thanx Stik, no I was more wondering about the Y-harnass than the lapstraps. Even the lapstraps on the kit is a slight unknown. The seatsides have a hole in the right side and not in the left side for the lapstrap to pass through. However I have read that it should be a hole in the left side and not the right side as that is where the seat's raise lever was and it could foul on it.

 

As for the Y harnass, it seems to consist of 2 sets, the one goes to the back bulkhead as per the link you gave, the other one looks like it went to the joint between the seatpan and backrest.

 

From what I see in the pic of the pilot in the plane, the 4 straps are joined through the locking pin very high up on the chest and this would (had the second Y harnass not been attatched to the seatpan) not kept the piolt down it the seat during negative G.

 

I think I got it now, thanx allot.

 

Theuns 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 7:35 PM

Glad I could help out. Looking at the diagram in the link, I had not previously seen the back portion, only the over the seat top portion. You learn something new every day. I also like how the two later harness types are listed as well. Helpful info for future projects.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 12:21 AM

Yes, it seems the secondary Y harness was attached somewhere immediately behind and at the base of the seat. 

There is some argument on whether the strap was draped over the seat and down, or passed through a hole towards the bottom of the seat.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/thread/1295649550

regards,

Jack

  • Member since
    April 2010
Posted by Theuns on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 12:46 AM

Thanx Jack, yes it does not seem that the harnass attatched to the seapan was between the polit's back and the sea back, not routed behind the seat as it might then not have the desired effect of really pulling the pilot down into the seat.

This is how I will do it, I am happy the harnass does not have the complex buckles of the American style ones, I have to make these straps from tape and wire LOL

 

Theuns

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