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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 0583.PDF
APR"- ^9"™' J948 FLIGHT 475 SEATS TO SUIT operated Bed Seat: Lightweight Folding Designs (Above) The pcwer-operated Bed Seat v>ith pneumatic or ehctric actuator. In the extended full-reclins position it is very comfortable for an all-night journey. (Rig'it) The 6g trooping seat, a quickly removable chair shown in upright and folded state. ffT T has been recognized for many years, I that the design and manufacture of seats for aircraft is a highly special-ized work. Some of the principal re- quirements are standard, but there are agreat many variables. Obviously weight must be a most important consideration, as also must be the strength of the structure. Seat structuresare subject to A.R.B. regulations in much the same way as other airframe components. Comfort is to a great extent con-trolled by space considerations, and it is up to the cabin designer or stylist to decide within limits the degree of comfortto be provided after considering the cabin capacity, average length of journey, etc. For flights of short duration in smallor medium-sized aircraft it is usual to sacrifice some comfort in order to increase the number of seats which can be carriedwhile meeting space and weight limitations. Over medium ranges in larger aircraft passengers require greater comfort andability to relax. Again, while keeping within weight limits it is usual to give the requisite degree of comfort in the minimumof space. When, as is common, as many as 32 passengers are carried in a medium-range mediunvsized transport, a saving olas little as 51b per complete seat represents in such an aircraft the weight of an extra passenger, or equivalent freight. Large, long-range aircraft must be regarded as a special case.Weight is again extremely important, but a more elaborate and very comfortable seat, possibly convertible into a bunk atnight, may be requested. Lastly there is a requirement for quickly-removable foldingseats on certain military and civil mixed-load transports. One company whichhas a great deal of ex- perience in the design-ing and production of a variety of aircraftseats is Christie-Tyler. Ltd., with offices at55, Pall Mall, London, S.W.i, and a factoryat Bridgend, Gla- morgan. Examples of seatsto meet various special requirementsare illustrated. For such aircraft asRapides and Ansons where space, in par-ticular width, is neces- sarily rather re-stricted, the light seat A light, high-back aircraft seat with folding table. is supplied. It weighs only 15A lb and costs about £25.The width is i8in, the cushion being 2in less and the length overall is 28Jin. A similar seat was supplied for A.S.V.Sunderlands during the war. British aircraft seats are proving an important export lineand the light, high-backed chair with folding table is an example which has been fitted to Fokker-refitted Dakotas. Itis also to be found in B.S.A.A. Lancastrians. It weighs 221b and has an overall width of 2iin. The minimum pitch of the seating is 33111, and thecost approximately £35. A rather similar but moreluxurious seat trimmed in brown Bedford cord ismade for the new Swedish Scandia aircraft. A particularly interest-ing design is the folding trooping seat of whichmany thousands have been made for the R.A.F. Theone illustrated is the 6g version. For such aircraftas Dakota and Halton freighters a number ofthese seats can be folded and stacked at the rearend of the fuselage and quickly brought into use ifneeded. In colour, the seat is light blue trimmedin vynide, and its cost and weight are 25 pounds ster-ling and avoirdupois respectively. An interesting new approach to the long-range requirementfor comfort and sleeping is the Bed Seat. This is intended to obviate much of the weight, complication and inconvenienceof convertible seats and folding bunks. Day or night it gives the passenger a choice of position between sitting upright andfull recline, and electrical or pneumatic power operation with button control is provided. It can be used at from 52 in pitchupwards and an average price (depending on actuation and material) is £120. The weight is 421b ±2lb, the width 27inand the overall extended length 67.5m. Upright the length is 34111 and the cushion width is 2oin. Several of the seatsdescribed can be supplied in pairs, i.e., as double seats for the standard four-abreast in two pairs arrangement. Christie-Tyler's lightest. A seat weighing only /5| Ib but giving a good measure of comfort.
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