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Old 1st Mar 2005, 22:08
  #19 (permalink)  
Tarnished
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 437
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Red Mud talked about collecting the silk worm pin. In fact it is membership of the "Caterpillar Club", founded during WWII to commemorate all the folks who were saved by using a silk parachute, at the time almost exclusively made by Irvin Ltd. The company these days certainly maintain the database. Ejectees were eligible to join two clubs - The MB Tie Club and the Caterpillar Club, a third, The Porpoise Club was available to those who could claim to have their lives saved by a Beaufort Ltd inflatable product (life jacket or life raft).

However, since about Mk 10 Martin Baker seat, ejectees ar enot eligible for the Caterpillar Club because the parachute used in that and subsequent seats was manufactured by GQ Ltd and not Irvin Ltd.

And BTW this thread has gone a bit off track in talking about wheels up landings as opposed to wheels up engine out landings, two different kettles of fish.

T

PS Got two MB Ties, two Caterpillars (but I lost one) and one Porpoise Club certificate....... wish I didn't
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