P-51 Pilot's armoured seat?

[sgt hawk]

I have noticed for several years that every now and then I will see a 51 with the armoured or a replica of an armoured seat placed in some of the Mustangs. I realise that some owners like to "single-seat" their planes and go for the authentic look, but most are two seaters and I also realise that flying with either a customer or friend is preferable. Where would you obtain a seat? Or are they reproductions? How many, out there are configured this way?
Woodstock Ga

[51fixer]

I have noticed for several years that every now and then I will see a 51 with the armoured or a replica of an armoured seat placed in some of the Mustangs. I realise that some owners like to "single-seat" their planes and go for the authentic look, but most are two seaters and I also realise that flying with either a customer or friend is preferable. Where would you obtain a seat? Or are they reproductions? How many, out there are configured this way?
Woodstock Ga

The seat is not armored, there is a large slab of surface hardened steel just behind the seat. On the B/C it is bolted to the overturn structure and on the D it is bolted to a piece of structure which crosses from side to side and extends down to the fuel tank shelf. Some have used alum to recreate the plate of steel. Some use the real thing. (have 1 upstairs) Some have made a real short version of just the part that you see in the canopy. On the P-51 there is also a chunk of steel plate on top just behind the prop but forward of the coolant header tank and is protection for the header tank. Also the firewall is also steel plate used to protect against flames but also to offer some protection for the pilot. You are basically protected from straight ahead and from behind. There isn't anything from the sides or top and bottom.
Rich

[sdennison]

How thick was that hardened steel plate? Pretty standard for most single seat fighters? How successful was it or do we know?

[51fixer]

How thick was that hardened steel plate? Pretty standard for most single seat fighters? How successful was it or do we know?

Read Bob Johnson's book about being a P-47 pilot. He was unable to maneuver much, unable to bail out and hid behind the armor plate while the Germans shot up his P-47 but survived and flew home. His P-47 was shot so many times they quit counting holes IIRC.
P-51D header tank and firewall protection are 1/4" thick. The pilot seat piece is 5/16" from bottom up to the head part that you see in the canopy. That is 7/16" thick. About where the head part angles forward there is a splice plate welded on to join the 5/16 lower part to the 7/16 top part.
The armor plate is surface hardened on 1 side only and is marked as to which side is soft or hard so you face the hardened side toward the shooters.
Rich

[maxum96]

Read Bob Johnson's book about being a P-47 pilot. He was unable to maneuver much, unable to bail out and hid behind the armor plate while the Germans shot up his P-47 but survived and flew home. His P-47 was shot so many times they quit counting holes IIRC.
Rich

That is an awesome story. I read it a long time ago. Shows just what a flying tank the P-47 was.

[Jim MacDonald]

I just bought one on ebay last week. It's slightly damaged & has been modified, but should be restorable.

My question is: as far as I know there were 3 (2?) different type of seats that were used in the P-51, The one I bought was a Schick Johnson. Was there any particular block of A/C that got a certain type of seat or were all types installed in all blocks depending on their availability?

Thanks,

Mac

[ausflyboy]

How thick was that hardened steel plate? Pretty standard for most single seat fighters? How successful was it or do we know?

Found this in the P-51 erection manual