Shoulder harness

[Flyingfemme]

Is there a shoulder harness option that doesn't fix to the roof? Everything I have seen requires the removal of the headliner. When my headliner was replaced, around ten years ago, the new one was installed just like the old one - tucked into the window rebates with the (new) windowpanes installed afterwards.
Pulling the whole interior out was not on my list of favourite things to do because it took weeks and a lot of swearing

[Pat Donovan]

Who am I responding to?

Can't answer your question for sure, but doubt it as the attachment point needs to be substantial to do any good. My Kosola units were planned with replacement of a rotten headliner which made things very easy. In your case, I would try to peel back the existing headliner enough to rivet as necessary. Then re-glue. The shoulder harness is a mandatory feature in my opinion.

Also be aware the NE Tribe is attempting to put together a group buy and install. See the article below for more info.

Regards,
Pat D
===
Shoulder Harness initiative: Shoulder harnesses, unfortunately not original equipment in most Comanches, are critical safety devices that save lives by protecting your noggin from your panel in the event of a sudden unplanned stop. This is a Technical (Zach Grant) and Safety (CJ Stumpf) committee initiative to provide a volume discount and fixed price install to Comanche owners. There are two STC’d providers of shoulder harnesses on the market: Alpha Aviation and PhilAir. Both have kits available for under $1,000, including inertial reel options for a few hundred more. We have spoken with both vendors and are in process of identifying shops across the globe willing to provide a fixed price install to Comanche owners. We are gathering a list of interested owners, using that to arrange bulk purchase, and providing a list of shops in each geographical area willing to become experts and provide a special set price for ICS members. We are also making provision for headliners since some of our aircraft have fragile or already-damaged headliners, and shoulder harness installs can be (and sometimes must be) combined with headliner installs. This is a potentially lifesaving service ICS can provide to its members. (As a person whose life was personally saved by an airplane shoulder belt, I am strongly behind this). The more people who are interested, the better the prices and the more shops who will be willing to become listed suppliers. If you are interested please email allenmurray@mindspring.com with info/interest in participating. Please put Shoulder Harness in the subject line and include your year and make.

[David Burt]

I’m interested in the group buy. Message sent.

Update: email came back undeliverable

[Pat Donovan]

try allenmurray@mindspring.com without the period.

Pat D

[Flyingfemme]

[Pat Donovan]

Completely agree Gillian that a floor-based system is very undesirable. Something that attaches to the rear seat belts if they are unoccupied would be better but not desirable.

I have had both a 59 and 64 model Comanche. The 64 definitely has the plastic frames and I thought the 59 did as well. You can probably use a razor blade to slit the fabric around the windows. Then very carefully peel back the fabric from the adhesive. If the fabric is wool, then you can spray it with water to allow it to stretch. When re-installing, hit it with steam and it will shrink to take out any wrinkles.

Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. Putting in a new headliner is not the worst chore.

Pat D

[David Burt]

Take a look at these.

http://www.phill-air.com/shoulderharnes ... rince.html

[LeWayne Garrison]

I don't know who holds the STC now, but I have the Platte Valley Aero shoulder harnesses in my aircraft. John Morelli held or holds the STC. They were relatively easy to install and required minimal disassembly of the headline, etc. Mr. Morelli specifically designed the installation to be minimally invasive.

[LeWayne Garrison]

The Phill-Air website shows an installation similar to the Platte Valley Aero installation. They may have the current STC, but the pictures and website are not very informative.

[LeWayne Garrison]

OK, I know I should have checked more thoroughly before posting, but the Phill-Air STC is the previous Platte Valley Aero STC. As stated before this Is the easiest and least intrusive shoulder harness option, in my opinion