I found this chair whilst browsing – being advertised as a B17 Radio Operators Chair at an antiques shop in Lincolnshire
misidentified probably due to this picture.
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/awa01/101-200/awa164-B-17/images%20Hawk/Image026.jpg
The B17 early chair was a pressed aluminium chair – progressing to the Cramer posture chair design from 1942 onwards – and not this design – But I stand to be corrected.
http://www.depot41.com/PartsInPlanes.htm
This chair looks like the PBY Catalina chair – used by the Radio Operator (PBY 2 onwards ) and the Navigator (PBY3 onwards) as well as the rear gunners.
The lab belt strap retaining bar appears to be missing.
Attached image from Catalina in scale and detail that shows the two seats in situ.
Any other thoughts ?
The lower base section is in steel and post war ( I assume) – but not surprising as the Catalina chair rotated in or were attached to the staggered hull.
By: FarlamAirframes - 6th June 2015 at 18:54
I have been stripping the paint from this chair and under the silver – the black – the light blue – the white and the grey was the original chromate green and a makers label.
It was made by General Fireproofing of Youngstown Ohio.
WIX has shown that these chair were used post war on C-47 and B377 Stratocruisers as shown in this image.
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/aircraft-pictures/2008/03/boeing-377-stratocruiser-cockp/
The chair is an evolution of the Good Form chair and was probably widely used due to comfort.
By: FarlamAirframes - 27th May 2015 at 13:49
Thank you Sir – so two B17’s with these added post war and used in positions. Easier to see why it was misidentified.
Next question then is why there were any spare ?
By: B-17man - 27th May 2015 at 13:16
Sally B has one of these fitted in the ‘engineers’ position behind the pilot, not a wartime fit in the B-17
Sign In
May 27, 2015 at 11:15 am