Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I have those Olde grip slider seat belts & shoulder harnesses. They are Olde and no longer flexible. I'm not even sure they would do the job if called upon.
What are you guys using, and where do you getum?

I have crow seat belts in mine. http://www.crowenterprizes.com/

Mine come from Hooker Harness. Jack has the template for the Thorp.

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

I also used the Crow restraints. Got them direct from the factory in the LA area. About $70.00 a set ? I also moved the attach point so as not to have all that belt draped over the deck. I attached a doubler to the deck and to the baggage compt. frame. One piece doubler. The anchors for the shoulder harness are alumin. angle that I had polished when I had the spinner done. They look like chrome.

RB

O.K.;
I looked at the Crow site. Did you select a set from the RV page, or spec your own?
4 point or 5?
If 5 point, where do you bolt the crotch strap to the airframe?
Rich, that's a very nice looking fabrication.

I believe it was from the race car section ? 4 point. It's been a while since I bought them, but you can specify the length of the shoulder harness or go with the stock length. It was the narrow web material. I would have to go measure it. W/O looking I think it was the 2" web. The lap belt has the Military style release. If you went with a 5 point the only place I can think to attach it would be bulkhead right below the seat just aft of the walking beam. I would put in a doubler to support it. Reason I did not put in a 5 point...takes up more room.

I called the guy at Crow and he was very helpful. They shipped out the same day. Let me see if I can find any paper work on the belts. Yep...I really liked how they turned out.

RB

OK...went to the Crow site to refresh my brain cells. I order the UTV/sand car restraints. #20094. Here's why. 2 inch web. Military style relase. Single point attach for the shoulder harness. Could not see any difference in the web material for the different belts except the width ? $75.00 each. I also ordered the pads for the shoulder harness, but they turned out to be more trouble than they were worth and took them off (velcro).

Pic of the Crow belts with shoulder pads. You can see they are a little "bulky." Seemed to get in the way so I took them out. I now have a set on the 4 gallon Solo yard sprayer. They work 4.0 for that application. I feel these belts are more than adequate.

RB

On a safety related theme. Would there be merit or value in including some sort of head rest on the deck?
I would have thought a simple headrest could provide some additional roll over / whiplash protection.
Stuart

I would definetly reccomend a 5 point if you are starting over. Just bolt or cherry max some angles on the shear plates. The crotch strap keeps the belt down in the correct place in an accident. I have pacific scientific belts.

Jeff

http://www.schrothracing.com/store/Competition This site seems to offer a comprehensive range of motor racing harnesses. Not sure if anyone has used them in a Thorp.

I got my current belts and shoulder harness from Wag Aero, reasonably priced and PMA'd if that makes any difference, I ordered all 2" web.

_________________
Bruce Finney
N18JF T-18C #262
Yelm, WA USA

http://wescoperformance.stores.yahoo.net/seatbelts.html

This is a source for Crow seat belts. I got the RJS brand same place, about $70 also. Mine is a 4-point setup: picked the lap belt and shoulder belts separately from the "off road" section. That sounds right, yes? They caution users to be careful how they're installed. You don't want the shoulder belts to compress your back if you move forward. Steel fittings are heavier than the aircraft styles in aluminum, but less $.

Les Krumel,
Albuquerque