Originally Posted by
NutLoose
I believe the Tornado command ejection was brought about during early testing of the Aircraft, if I remember rightly they were up on an Test Flight over the North Sea and an incident occurred ( birdstrike? ) disabling the front seater , the aircraft was in a shallow descent and the rear seater stuck it talking to the pilot hoping he would start to respond until at low height he was forced to bang out leaving the poor guy to his fate. The command ejection came about from that incident. Or am I getting confused?
Nutloose are you sure this is not the F4 incident from Leuchars around 1988? you describe in good detail in reference to the Nav trying to talk to him and the shallow dive but there was no birdstrike as the Pilot had suffered a stroke, it was my profound honour to be in charge of the VAS nightshift when his body was recovered (By 22 sqn) we stopped all personnel and A/C movements and offered the decease the respect he deserved. Brought back a flood of memories I was also part of the honour guard when the cortege came through Leuchars for the burial at Leuchars cemetery.