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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0136.PDF
136 FLIGHT International, 25 January 1962 Furnishing and Finishing . NEW FROM THE INDUSTRY # Seating Equipment WITH the growth of economy-class travel, it is almost true to say that the design of aircraft seats demands a design effort in inverse ratio to the amount of space provided per passenger—this in order to achieve a balance between strength considerations, weight, serviceability and comfort. In creasingly there is a trend towards using the services of an industrial design con sultant to assist the engineers in producing a solution that will satisfy not only the operators' commercial demands and the requirements of the airworthiness authori ties but also those of the ultimate customer —the passenger. A full-time industrial designer has recently joined the design team of L. A. Rumbold & Co Ltd, Kingsgate Place, Kilburn, London NW6, one of Britain's longest-established aircraft interior fur nishing and soundproofing specialists. The firm are now offering a consultant design service for all aspects of aircraft furnishing and seating. In their standard range are lightweight high-density seats which can be used at a minimum pitch of 28in. The double seat weighs 381b with fixed back, or 401b with a reclining back. Corresponding figures for the triple seat are 521b and 56£lb. Among recent aircraft fitted with Rum- bold seats are Ghana Airlines' Viscounts— first- and tourist-class seats and a removable VIP kit (illustrations, pages 132-133 and below); Viscounts of Bahamas Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Aer Lingus; F.27s Some Representative Aids to Passenger Comfort of the two latter airlines; Avro 748s of the Indian Air Force; and Arkia's DC-3s. Rumbold have supplied some of the seats for the BAC One-Eleven mock-up, and the Vickers-Armstrongs VA3 Hovercraft is to be furnished and equipped with seats by this company. Reclining aircraft seats, adjustable to nine positions ranging from 12° to 60° from the vertical, are manufactured by Microcell Ltd, of 9 Kingsway, London WC2. These seats, designed to give maximum comfort and utilization of space with minimum weight, are upholstered in foam rubber, with non-inflammable fabric covers. The covers are fixed by zip-fasteners and can be easily removed for cleaning. Both the plastic side panels and leather-covered armrests can also be wiped clean. For high-density and normal tourist seating systems, freedom of movement around the aircraft has been facilitated by Lightweight seats for the Avro 748, designed to fold to the side of the fuselage when the aircraft is to be used for freighting (Flying Services Engineering & Equipment Ltd) High-density seats by L. A. Rumbold & Co Ltd in the forward compartment of a Ghana Airways' Viscount the use of tip-up seats with folding inter mediate armrests in which ash-trays are incorporated as a standard fitting. Single, double, or triple seat units vary in width from 30in to 53in. Detachable leg rests and built-in seat trays are optional fittings. Between each seat in the double Executive De-Luxe unit (picture, page 133) is a fitted cabinet which provides a table with storage space beneath for magazines. One of the difficulties encountered by airline operators is in getting small orders made up to their special requirements. A firm that will willingly undertake this type of service is Flying Service Engineering and Equipment Ltd, 134 High Street,
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