Hi…
Any of you guys help us with this Whirlwind seat?
There’s very little material of it remaining and was wondering if these were something that were made at Westlands in house specifically for the Whirly cockpit or were something that was bought “off the peg” and fitted with the external framework to allow it to be secured in the cockpit, either at the factory they were made or back at Westland?
If they are made by a subcontractor, any idea who might have made the Whirlwind pilots seat and was it used in any other aircraft?
Cheers
Stu.
WhirlwindFighterProject
By: TempestV - 29th August 2012 at 13:43
“….The bottom of the seat is welded aluminium alloy”.
This is a good start.
So in the absence of an original drawing, I think the best way to re-create one of these seats would be to make an aluminium seat pan (lower part) based on a Spitfire one, and use the AP extracts/photo’s you have of the Whirlwind assembly to reconstruct the support fraimng, armour plate, and fabric padding. Westlands made Spitfires, so maybe there was some cross-pollination of design here??
In post#2 you have shown the isometric diagram of the seat. Item numbers 3+6 are more than likely the standard AS seat riser/locking quadrant parts common to many types. You see these on the Hornet/Vampire/Firefly seats I referred you to earlier.
Hope this helps.
By: MrBlueSky - 29th August 2012 at 09:16
Hi Dave…
Yes, I remembered to do that, the WAL drawing went the way of 1000’s of others, in a skip after the flood… 🙁
There’s a Ref. No. 4568 and a Class of Store Ref. “A”
By: TempestV - 29th August 2012 at 09:09
Maybe an obvious question, but have you checked the Whirlwind “schedule of Spare parts” AP for a part number for this seat?
If it uses a commonly available AS type seat you will be able to find the number. If not, then you will know for sure.
By: MrBlueSky - 29th August 2012 at 09:08
Here’s the listing for the PS taken from the SoSP’s Manual…
If anyone with a interest in back engineering this seat and supply drawings with same, please contact us, you’ve got just over a fortnight for completion… 😉
By: MrBlueSky - 29th August 2012 at 08:53
Ah, was wondering how long it would be before some man picked that up… :rolleyes:
Thanks Alan my fault entirely for not reading the AP before I started the thread! Still got everybody thinking which is a good thing and I learnt something as well which is good – Read the blinking AP!!! 😉
Thanks for everyone’s help… 😮
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th August 2012 at 17:52
…as are Whirlwind seats, according to Vol. I. 🙂
By: MrBlueSky - 28th August 2012 at 16:26
Hi Cee’s
Well this one sure is…
http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/DETAILSITE/UK/hurricane/z2768/sovhur_seat2.jpg
By: CeBro - 28th August 2012 at 15:33
Hurricane seats are metal aren’t they?
Cees
By: Matty - 28th August 2012 at 03:34
Yes, I think that’s the case.
You’ve answered part of your own question; made by Aeroplastics; they do appear from time to time. I have one available if you are interested, but it wont plug straight in!
Bruce
As you say Bruce, it likely won’t plug in straight away.
How do Hurri and Spit seats compare? A quick look on Google suggest they don’t compare well. Why would that be if the differences were just mounting points?
By: Firebex - 28th August 2012 at 01:49
I have replica Spitfire seats on the shelf at the minute.They are for Spitfire projects we currently have in the workshop but I can get more without any problem.And before anyone asks no they aint suitable for airworthy projects.
mike E
By: Fouga23 - 28th August 2012 at 00:07
Here’s a Fouga one
By: Bruce - 27th August 2012 at 21:09
Yes, I think that’s the case.
You’ve answered part of your own question; made by Aeroplastics; they do appear from time to time. I have one available if you are interested, but it wont plug straight in!
Bruce
By: MrBlueSky - 27th August 2012 at 20:38
Sorry, I still need to get all this clear, are we saying that this is a standard type that was readily available to all aircraft manufacturers and that in this case it was altered (The back was cut down ) by Westland and metal framing was made to allow it to be fitted to the cockpit…
Now the important questions, are these “AS” seats all the same dimensions and who exactly made them and are there drawings left that we can get or can someone measure one for us to use to make a virtual replica…
By: FarlamAirframes - 27th August 2012 at 20:04
Fuzzy seat pic from Cobham Hall reserve collection…
By: Bruce - 27th August 2012 at 19:01
Aircraft Spares!
Bruce
By: MrBlueSky - 27th August 2012 at 18:48
Hmmm… I’m showing my ignorance here but what does the “AS” stand for… 😮
By: MrBlueSky - 27th August 2012 at 16:56
If you look at the port side of the seat as shown in the prototype picture above you can just make out where the rear of the seat ends… 😉
By: Fouga23 - 27th August 2012 at 16:33
AS seat was also copied by the French and used in aircraft like the Fouga Magister
By: MrBlueSky - 27th August 2012 at 16:21
D’oh! Beat me to it Dave… Ha!
By: TempestV - 27th August 2012 at 16:03
Standard AS seat
We do have a profile drawing of the seat which I believe to be quite accurate. Would anyone have similar for Spitfire (or other) for comparison.
It looks like the lower part of a standard AS seat up to half way up the back, and topped off with a tubular frame that supports an armour plate.
Here is an image of the AS seat for comparison (as fitted to single seat Vampire, Hornet, Firefly, Piston Provost, etc.)
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August 26, 2012 at 9:02 pm