Shoulder Harnesses

[DannyDot]

I would like to put shoulder harnesses on my plane. Is this an STC? Where do I order them from and how are they installed. Anybody have a copy of a 337 they can post?

Danny Deger

[astjp2]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

The feds have said that if no cutting or welding is required, you can install with a log book entry, an A&P can handle this for you. Tim

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

I bought mine from Hooker Harness and really like them.

Frank DeBartolo
N43684

[N95334]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

Hooker Harness is the best. Installed mine in couple of hours. Just be careful not to wrap them around the aileron cables that run real close by the cross tubing from the rear wing attach fittings. I used the Commercial set and only the 4 point setup. You can add the 5th point because there is room at the buckle but unless your going to be flying inverted or outside aerobatics it is not needed. No STC or 337 needed, Hooker Harness has all the info you need. Plus in previous threads there are photos of how other have done it.

[Richard Boyer]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

I don't know............I've encountered a few thermals that got my undivided attention!! Even with the 4 point Hookers, I slammed into the ceiling!!

[DannyDot]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

I bought mine from Hooker Harness and really like them.

Frank DeBartolo
N43684

Thanks, I just ordered mine from them.

Danny Deger

[N74DV]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

I ordered a set of hookers as well. My Tcraft is in for annual now and I'm having them installed. From what I can tell, all you do is loop one end around the cross bar behind the headliner and slit the headliner accordingly. Super simple install.

[Guest]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

I ordered a set of hookers as well. My Tcraft is in for annual now and I'm having them installed. From what I can tell, all you do is loop one end around the cross bar behind the headliner and slit the headliner accordingly. Super simple install.

I don't recommend that, last time I ordered a set of hookers my wife beat the tar out of me.

:-)

Sorry, couldn't resist, Dave.

[DannyDot]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

I have a skylight installed and there is some type of structure going from the top of the tube to attach the harness to that goes from the top of the tube to the skylight. I am not thrilled about cutting a slot in the structure. Has anyone had this problem?

I have attempted to attach a picture of the area, but I am not sure it worked. How do I attach a picture?

The side shown is fabric, the back side is an aluminum sheet with lightening holes in it.

Danny

[tawadc95]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

Dave,
How many come in a set?
Chris

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

Danny,

I also have a skylight and what we did was to have Hooker make the ends of the harness longer in order to be able to connect them to the next tube behind the tube where the aileron cables are. Most T-Craft owner connect the harness to the first tube where the aileron cables are. Go back appx 18 inches to the next tube and connect there. Simple and works well.

Hooker made mine up so it would work in my airplane and my IA installed them for me appx 1.5 years ago. No problems.

Frank,

[Robert Lees]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

How do I attach a picture?

Danny, have a look at this post, it should help.

Rob

[astjp2]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

If the back of your seat is not above your shoulders and you install the shoulder harness on that aft tube, you will probably wind up paralized! If they are not attached almost directly above your shoulders in a Taylorcraft, you will get severe spinal compression due to the foreward momentum of your body and the aft position of the attach fitting. Take a look at race car seats, they have multiple places to pass the belts through to keep the belts above your shoulder and this prevents the belts from pushing your shoulders down during a foreward impact. I would not sign off an annual if they were in the wrong location. Tim

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

Does anyone know where to attach the shoulder harnesses other than the aft tube in T-Crafts with the skylight.

Rob, I believe one of your airplanes has a skylight. How did you attach yours?

Frank D

[flyguy]

Re: Shoulder Harnesses

Tim, I think you have just posed a possible solution for my seatbelt problem. I have the military style ones which besides being cheap are really sturdy. BUT they come up and over from the bar behind the seat. Fine for turbulence, but every time I put them on I think about what they would do to my spine in case of a severe frontal impact. I have a vertical seat board with cushion attached that keeps the crossbar from cutting into my back as with a short cushion per normal installation, but it doesn't come far enough above my shoulders.
Now you have me thinking that I might put in a strong enough vertical component, extending above my sholders, that would at least transfer some of the load of a frontal to the bottom of the seat canvas.
Would have to be a pretty sturdy chunk of material to not fold up under that kind of load, but it would be a great improvement from the way it is.
I have to sketch it out to see if it really would work.
Thanks for the Idea.
Darryl