Netters,
I appreciate the responses thus far about my belts. I made the decision not to
mount the belts to the rear spar due to the reverse angle created by the seats
and such, as well as the weakening of the spars with more bolts drilled and
mounted. Although the previous builder had mounted the lap belts (no shoulder
belts were in yet), they had ridiculously small brackets and AN3 bolts which I
knew would be inadequate. Brackets around the spar already cause sharp angles
and opportunities for the belts to get frayed and twisted, reducing their
strength and life. I do not desire a major structural failure by mounting the
belts into the spar with large appropriate bolts for strength, but reduce the
integrity of that spar.
My real questions are related to improving/strengthening the existing
mounts without the addition of too much weight, to allow the belts to withstand
a "normal" survivable crash. I do not wish to make them, nor do I think I can
make them withstand a major airframe destruction crash, due to too many other
variables. Like the KR2 that crashed right after takeoff and the pilot walked
away, but not before exiting the aircraft through the BOTTOM of the aircraft, I
think it is nearly impossible to protect against every eventuality. Kind of
like adding seat belts to a motorcycle: it is a good thing in alot of the cases
of a crash, but not all of them. These belts are rated for the automotive
industry, so they are designed for what Scott Cable mentioned in his reply. I
desire to have them basically cause airframe damage to the area they are
mounted, because if I am receiving that much impact, so is the plane, and I
don't expect much of it to survive anyhow. Not being a fatalist, just
realistic about a major uncontrolled collision.
Colin & Bev Rainey KR2(td)
[email protected]
http://kr-builder.org/Colin/index.html
Sanford, Florida
KR Gathering 2004-see ya in Mt Vernon
