Originally Posted by
Hot 'n' High
Very rarely for the reasons you cited + the fact most helo ops are quite low-level affairs. The Russian Ka-50 and Ka-52 attack helicopters have ejection seats but not aware of any others. But, on some rare occasions..........
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...s-1614706.html
IIR, there was some talk about the RN AEW fleet crews getting chutes back in the day as they often operate at high level but not sure what became of that idea - I never saw it. Certainly, when doing the dunker (even just as pax), it took quite an effort to escape with just a life jacket on so, if approaching the ship after an AEW sortie you went in, a parachute would probably become quite a liability.
I agree with this. I seem to recall the pilot had a narrow escape, a rotor blade digging in a couple of feet from his head. Memory fades. Them carrying parachutes was a Westland thing.
Nevertheless, the accident prompted a programme involving Irwin to assess the benefits. I'm not sure it got beyond Feasibility Study. The chap who managed it left the project office when PE decamped to Abbey Wood, and all such work was transferred to DHSA at Yeovilton.
Edited to add: As Hot'n'High said, it was Sea King who looked at it in 95/96 - not Merlin.