Should P-47 seats have cushions?

[Keith B]

U.S. pilots used 'seat' parachutes yes? (as opposed to the German 'back' chutes) Therefore the seat itself would not have a cushion, unless it was a restored warbird?

 

Just checking.

-keith

[Shoki]

There was no cushion, the pilot sat on his parachute, you're right

 

Cheers

[Texas]

HI I am no expert but thats what I was always told. The parachute was the cushion and I don't thank there was room. Others may know more.

 

Texas

[Keith B]

There was no cushion, the pilot sat on his parachute, you're right

 

Cheers

 

I wanted to double check, as the new Avionics P-47 resin seat has a cushion in it. Also, there's no oxygen hose from the regulator and the support frames for the rudder pedals are a bit undersize. Overall it's nice though. Combined with the Eduard set should work out well.

-keith

[tourist]

I'm not sure about p-47s but Mustangs had a back cushion that was in fact a life raft in case the pilot had to ditch above water (I'm not really sure whether or not pilots would take it with them).

Wouldn't the USAAF have the same emergency equipment on all aircrafts?

[Shoki]

That was the case on Mustang as pilots had a back-parachute which was smaller. This was the same for late versions of the F4U Corsair and other post war piston-engined aircraft. According to the fact that the pilots late in the war in the Pacific, had to travel a lot over oceans, a life raft was designed to be carried with the pilot in case of ejection over seas.