DEVELOPMENT OF A RECLINED CRASHWORTHY CREWSEAT FOR ROTORCRAFT

Reclining a rotorcraft crewseat may reduce the required cockpit height, which would lower aerodynamic drag and radar cross section. However, the effects of this seating position on aircrew survivability is not known. The present work simulates the dynamic response of a 50th-percentile male occupant in a reclined seat. Forty-five seat configurations with various combinations of seat back, pan, and stroking angles were evaluated at four crash simulation scenarios. The conclusion of this study is that crewseats with highly reclined back angles would provide better lumbar support and reduce spinal injuries compared to the conventional 13-degree back angle crewseats. The reclined back and the reduced required seat stroking distance may result in a cockpit height reduction of about 10 percent.