testing new airliners
Just saw an interview on TV with an airbus ( I think it was a 340/600) test pilot who basically said that they wear parachutes, helmets etc on testing flights and then pointed to a large red(covered) handle "which could blow(something) off to escape if needed"
I know that the test Concord had an escape hatch at each end of a/c and that it was a totally manual system (ie blow off hatch and slide down hole), but I just wondered if this was "normal" for initial flights in airliners?
Has any civvy a/c been fitted with ejection seats during testing?