A new seatbelt for sailplanes

Abstract

The method by which a sailplane pilot buckels himself in - a two-piece seat belt whth two wide, stiff plates, two shoulder straps and a metal-tonged fastner - has remained essentially unchanged for decades.  This method, however, due to the semi-reclining position of the pilot in most modern sailplanes, is no longer achieving a firm binding of the pilot to his aircraft...   During all of my trial flights with just the hip and diagonal strap I felt throroughly safe and found the available freedom of movement very pleasant.