What are these for??

[Battson]

I honestly have no idea what these little tubes are for...

See attached.

I know what I might use them for mind you! Affixing cargo tie-downs, or the rear attachments for a belly pod.

[Gavin Chester]

Float rear strut attachment , along with bottom side of rear seat attach point.

[Roy Glenn]

they are for attaching the rear seat belts, Float fittings go 1 bay back and are totally different

[Battson]

they are for attaching the rear seat belts

You attach the rear seatbelt to seat? As picture above, there's a flange welded onto the seat for that purpose.

The mystery of the fittings continues...

[Mark Goldberg]

They are for float fittings Jonathan. But most guys have welded on a different type of float fitting. Mark

[Dan R.]

On the early plans they were rear seat belt fittings. At that time the rear seat drawings in the Bob's newsletters didn't show the seat belts attached to the seat. Dan R.

[Enewton57]

I remeber there being some discussion about not liking the seat belts attached to the seat. If the seat turns loose, you and the seat will go flying through the windshield. It would be better having the seat belts attached to the fuselage frame.

[Mark Goldberg]

Bob did some calculations on the seat belts attached to the rear seat and decided it was OK. It is VERY strong with one person or two people under 200 lbs each. He had us supply AN eye bolts for the rear attach points to make sure they were strong. It is the rear attach points that take the load. But certainly those horizontal bushings work well for attaching seat belts also. Mark

[Battson]

Does anyone have a photo of the kind of float fitting that would attach to those points?

[Zzz]

Does anyone have a photo of the kind of float fitting that would attach to those points?

Was hanging out with some float pilots here yesterday who convinced me I need to keep this avenue open. What kind of fitting/fixture bolts to the cluster?

[alaskabearhawk]

Look in BearTracks January 2001 under "Float Fitting Information". It describes these, along with the lower bushing, can be used for float fittings or rear seat belt attach points. I know of no float fittings that will use this kind of mount or any type of mount that a certified aircraft has that is even remotely similar to this. So I would use them for a seat belt. Bob is a great designer, but doesn't know much about float installation. Not a slam on him, just the way it is. For example the mount for the ventral fin he drew is one station forward where it needs to be. We went over this in great detail a few years ago.

[Zzz]

Look in BearTracks January 2001 under "Float Fitting Information". It describes these, along with the lower bushing, can be used for float fittings or rear seat belt attach points. I know of no float fittings that will use this kind of mount or any type of mount that a certified aircraft has that is even remotely similar to this. So I would use them for a seat belt. Bob is a great designer, but doesn't know much about float installation. Not a slam on him, just the way it is. For example the mount for the ventral fin he drew is one station forward where it needs to be. We went over this in great detail a few years ago.

It seems within the realm of possibility to me, based on the design on float fittings I've seen like the Atlee Dodge. Maybe there is nothing available off the shelf, but fabricating something like the photo below would be pretty easy. Just eyeballing the photos of Maules with floats (sorry for the comparison), the attach point seems to be at the right station. IIRC you are mounting floats, Paul. Can you show photos of your fittings?

[alaskabearhawk]

If you notice that is a weld-on fitting, not a bolt on. That hole is for a rosette weld. Attached is a picture of bolt-on fittings for a J3, different concept and not a good option at all. Too many penetrations in the fabric for water to get in. I have a picture of Rob Taylor's fittings and it's attached. Mine will be more like what the Patrol has, but similar concept.

[James]

Can I ask a similar question - what are the horizontal bushings welded into the sloping tubes under the front seats for? They don't seem to have anything to do with the mounting of the front or rear seat, and I've spent 30 minutes looking over the plans, but can't see them depicted. Any clues?

Thanks (as always!)

James

[N942VT]

Front seat belts.