SHOULDER HARNESS FOR AILERONS

29 May 2001, 08:19 AM

hi, gentlemen; does anybody know which WWI airplanes (either American or european) featured aileron control via pilot shoulder harness, which were operated moving the pilot´s weight to the side he wanted to turn? I understand early Jennies (and perhaps some more early Curtiss types) operated that way.

Many thanks
Miguel

PeterL · 29 May 2001, 08:39 AM

That was a system adopted by Glen Curtiss. I have seen it suggested that he used this system to get around the Wright's patents

hth

Peter L

Vigilant · 31 May 2001, 08:19 AM

It was also used by French-Brazilian pioneer (and man who should be as famous as the Wright brothers IMO) Alberto Santos-Dumont. Witnesses to his historic flight in November 1906 likened his piloting technique to dancing the samba! (Large control inputs required I presume.)

ASD retired from aviation in 1910, though, and I don't know of the control system being used on any WWI aircraft.

Vigilant

10 June 2001, 06:11 AM

In the series "Four Years of Thunder" obtainable from the History Channel tape sales, it shows such a harness in use on a replica at Rhinebeck.
Incidentally, if you don't already have this series, you will want to get a set while they are still available. Both original footage and Rhinebeck footage, and very enlightening and extremely entertaining.