Would Harvards operated by the RAF of used a Sutton Harness/ Q type or an American style one? Particularly post war. And in a similar vein would they of been the U.S shade of Interior green or the standard RAF one?
Thanks in advance.
Ben.
By: T6flyer - 13th May 2015 at 23:10
In the twelve British Harvards that I have flown in, none had a Sutton Harness fitted. That is to say that they weren’t fitted upon release from the factory.
Martin
By: bensummerfield - 13th May 2015 at 12:57
Thanks for the replies chaps, big help. I’m intending to model the aircraft above which I found in this very forum.
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th May 2015 at 10:52
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By: TEXANTOMCAT - 13th May 2015 at 10:43
Ps in regard to interior colours… One day out of boredom I stacked up a load of internal fittings which had different shades of green..I gave up at 32!
Range from grey-green (Humbrol matt78!) to dark olive, bronze green, zinc chromate and olive drab. This was all original paint…so any colour you like as long as its green! Its like an oven in a T6 on a warm day as its a big greenhouse so I don’t blame any warbird owners for using a lighter shade of paint in theirs! I’ve flown in a dark stock machine and a white,light grey modernised machine…it makes a difference! IIRC the Kiwis and South Africans went for light grey for a reason!
TT
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 13th May 2015 at 10:36
On all the Harvards I’ve worked on (mainly later types from 11a onwards) the US type of harness was fitted. This is mainly because it is an inertia reel type rather than the fixed Sutton version. Having seen some original seats from Canadian Harvards they too had inertia reel types fitted. I imagine that the very early marks may have had Suttons though.
Postwar, inertia reel versions all the way. Bear in mind there were two styles of metal seat, SJ and WM types ie one or two piece however we also have two wooden single piece Harvard seats in our stores one marked as being made by Hughes Aircraft.
If in doubt then use the US type, I doubt you’ll find many if any warbirds flying with Suttons.
TT
By: Graham Boak - 13th May 2015 at 09:32
Which Harvards are you talking about? Those which were supplied under Lend-Lease will have been standard USAAF aircraft and hence painted the same way as T-6s with the USAAF, with whatever colour North American used for green interiors. This colour did vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. However those ordered and bought prewar will have predated any US interior paint ruling, for example aircraft such as the Maryland were delivered in Aluminium-painted interiors. It seems likely that for the Mk.I and subsequent bought aircraft there will have been some agreement between the UK and NAA as to the interiors of these aircraft, but this is before the complete standardisation of British aircraft interiors on Grey Green. Some kind of pale green would be likely. This variant did still have fabric sides, at least partially, just to add variety. As to those variants supplied by Canada, I think Grey Green is a fairly safe bet.
The harness system may similarly have varied, but I’d expect any used in the UK to have been equipped with the Sutton. Those built and used in Canada will have been the same. Those built in the US under Lend-Lease and shipped direct to training units outside the UK – ah, well that could be different.
I’m sorry I can’t be more definitive, and hopefully people with direct experience will be around soon. But I thought it best to illustrate some of the reasons why the question may have had several good, but different, answers.
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May 13, 2015 at 8:15 am