Aerobatic Airplanes and Seatbelt Cutters
 

Anyone else carry a seatbelt cutter in their cockpit ?

Yup, my amphibian has one above the windshield, easy reach for each occupant. That said, both my planes have four point Hooker harness, so I'm not to worried about them not opening.

Thread drift a little: A few Cessnas are still around with mis installed Cessna single shoulder harnesses, which remain connected even if you open the lap belt. Letting alone this should be corrected, belt cutters are vital in these planes, as you won't get out from hanging, unless you wriggle out, or cut the belt.

I have one in a little clip to the front of my harness for test flying and aerobatics. At other times it lives in my headset bag.

G

I've got one of the Victorinox "Rescue Tools" in a zipped upper arm pocket of my flightsuit. I've also seen people with "box cutters" stashed in the cockpit for cutting belts.

Thanks for the steer, I just ordered a Victorinox Rescue Tool.

The Victorinox Rescue Tool is excellent. There are at least two versions. I prefer the one which enables you to open the knife with one hand, it's got a loop in the top of the blade for easy opening. Bear in mind though, a seatbelt cutter has the one design feature that you can using is safely pulling toward yourself, and sight unseen if needed, it can't cut you. The rescue tool can very certainly cut you!

I already have a seatbelt cutter in my warbird, but I wanted something to carry in my flight suit as well. The Victorinox will fill the bill nicely

Not quite the same model as I have, but I prefer something like this.

https://external-content.duckduckgo....%24&f=1&nofb=1

Hook onto the webbing, just pull to cut. I don't want anything more complex, or more pointy, for that particular purpose. I'm not saying I wouldn't happily have the Victorinox item for other purposes (indeed a Swiss Champ is a fixture on my person most waking hours), but not for cockpit escape.

G

Keep in mind how to egress before cutting the belt . You may have to put your feet on the instrument panel to get out . Using your legs to push out as most people struggle to do chin ups in a 1G environment . A tumbling aircraft may push you into the seat or trap you with high G loading . Using your legs to get out might be an option .
Those big cutters look useful .

These are said to be good by those who've used them:



Seat belt cutter and window punch, though I don't the punch is much cop for most aircraft canopies.