Collections record Beta

Safety Belt

1926-07-0

Wide canvas belt with two leathe rstraps that wrap around body of belt and buckle on one side. Opposite of buckles, canvas is joned by large triangular shaped bracket

Safety belt worn by Henry L. Page while in training as an aviator at Love Field, Dallas, TX January 4, 1918. Attempting to avoid a collision with another plane as both were leaving the field, his own stalled and dropped 400 feet to the ground. He remembers seeing the other plane glide by him to safety around 10 feet below but remembers nothing further until consciousness returned several hours later. The safety belt is buckled around the pilot's waist and is woven about a steel triangle at end side of seat. This triangle is bolded to the floor of the plane. The force which the plane struck the ground is demonstrated by the broken straps and canvas of the belt as it tried to keep the pilot from being thrown from the seat. The injuries in this instance were slight and he resumed flying a few weeks later.

ca. 1917

32" long x 5 1/2" wide

• canvas
• leather
• metal