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Plane passenger seats become lifebelts in 10 seconds. New safety device for flying-boats
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Plane passenger seats become lifebelts in 10 seconds. New safety device for flying-boats
Plane passenger seats become lifebelts in 10 seconds. New safety device for flying-boats.
In preparation for the regular Atlantic service and also for the new Empire flying boats a new pattern " safety-seat" which can be converted to a lifebelt in under 10 seconds has been designed and incorporated in the passengers seat cushions on the Imperial Airways flying-boats. Although weighing only 5 pounds, the two cushions - seat and back - can support a weight of 20 stones in water they have been specially manufactured, after 18 months research, on the secret " float on air" principle.
Photo shows: Donning the " safety-seat" lifebelt and smoking a cigar at the same time during a test in the water at Southampton.
9 June 1937
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Media ID 11685389
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In this photo from 1937, we witness a remarkable innovation in aviation safety. The image showcases a man donning the newly designed "safety-seat" lifebelt on an Imperial Airways flying-boat during a test in Southampton. With a touch of humor, he confidently smokes a cigar while demonstrating the ease and efficiency of this groundbreaking device. The caption informs us that these innovative seat cushions can be transformed into lifebelts within just 10 seconds, providing passengers with added security during their journeys across the Atlantic or aboard Empire flying boats. Weighing only 5 pounds, these cushions possess incredible buoyancy capabilities, able to support up to 20 stones (280 pounds) in water. The development of these safety-seats required extensive research over an impressive span of 18 months. They were manufactured using the secret "float on air" principle, ensuring optimal performance when faced with emergency situations at sea. This photograph not only captures the ingenuity behind this new safety device but also offers us glimpses into the fashion and technology prevalent during that era. As we observe this quirky yet fascinating scene frozen in time, it serves as a reminder of how far aviation safety has come since those pioneering days between the wars.
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