SE5a seat and harness

MicroSculpt · 8 February 2007, 07:29 AM

Greetings, all!

Does anyone have definitive information on the seat installation on the SE5a?

I've seen several interpretations on the area. These include a simple "bench" seat — essentially a board between the fuselage sides. And sometimes, a "box" seat shown as mounted on top of that. Where different installations offered by various manufacturers?

The seat back appears to be a simple board. The Memorial flight restoration shows this hinged. This would seem logical. Any period photo evidence to confirm this?

It would also appear logical that there was some sort of seat cushion to make the seat a bit more comfortable. The early Memorial Flight restoration had a simple seat cushion. But it appears that later the restoration got a cushion with a back as well, that slides over the wood seat back. Again any period photo documentation on making the SE5a pilot comfortable?

My last area of interest is the installation of the seat harness. I assume an early Sutton Harness. However I am unclear as to the exact attachment area for the lap portion. And where did the shoulder straps attach? Some sources indicate that the shoulder straps passed through openings in the bulkhead behind the pilot.

Well, there you have it. Another mystery to solve. Anyone have definitive answers out there? If so, I'd greatly appreciate. Thanks!

Tom

Maxim08 · 8 February 2007, 03:30 PM

Out of about 600 SE drawings, I can only see one that refers to the seat.
A lovely drawing of the cushion but perhaps the cushion outline will tell you something.
PM an e-mail address and I'll forward a scan.
Regards,
John

Maxim08 · 11 February 2007, 07:33 AM

Tom,
Here's some information for you re the seat. As we pm'd, below is a scan of the seat pad from the Smithsonian R.A.F. drawings.

I'm sure that the following will be of much more interest. This is an e-mail that Jim Kiger sent to me and asked that I share with the forum.

"The side view and location of the attachment fittings was traced direct from original factory drawing so I would think it is totaly accurate.
I also think the Memorial Flight people took a few liberties as I once had a complete set of original Factory drawings for the SE5a and did not see a hinged backrest as they show nor the padding they show on the seat back former .
The seat itself was two layers of one quarter three ply ash glued together with a one quarter inch thick felt pad glued on top ,there was a seat pad of one inch thick covered with pegamoid and stuffed with horsehair.
The seatpad dimensions are eighteen inches wide by 11.4 inches from front to rear and the front side was curved to a radius of 9.75 inches.
The seat also had a little bit of adjustment as it could slide fore and aft on alluminim rails the distance it could travel was 3.25 inches and as it came foreward it would rise about one and a half inches.
Hope this answers most of the questions and feel free to share this on the forum if you wish
Regards
Jim "

Here are images that Jim sent along. I have resized them. I trust that they will be of use to you.

And

Jim sells an excellent set of SE 5 drawings. You should check out: http://www.replicraft.us.fm/

Good luck,
Regards,
John