Martin Baker 'Live' Ejection From the Back of a Lorry

[Warmtoast]

As a member of 99 Sqn I attended the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget in May 1961.

ISTR that one of the exhibitors was Martin Baker and their demonstration included a 'live' ejection by a very brave man from the back of a lorry as it raced down the runway. He ejected, parachute opened and landed safely.

I mentioned this to friend who is very sceptical, but I think it did indeed take place i.e. it was a man and not a dummy.

Anyone like to comment please as to whether my memory is still sound about this event after 48-years?

[chiglet]

Try a search for "Doddy" Hayes. He was MBs "ginuea pig" for ejection tests. I've read his autobiography,but cannot remember the title.

[Fargo Boyle]

I think it is 'Man in the Hot Seat' IIRC....

[Dan Winterland]

Indeed it is. The man was very brave - or barking mad!

[Speed Twelve]

Doddy Hay was a fitter IIRC at Martin Baker who volunteered for live seat testing. He even did some proper zero/zero trials by sitting on a rocket seat in the middle of the airfield and pulling the handle to 'prove' the concept!

Bravery/lunacy on a John Stapp-esque scale.

[longer ron]

Doddy Hay was not a fitter at MB,ISTR that he was an ex deck officer.
I think the fitter was Bernard Lynch , he did the first live ejection in 1946 from a meteor.

[longer ron]

Good website for some info...
Chalgrove Meteors

http://www.ejectorseats.co.uk/The-Chalgrove-meteors-_2_.pdf

[Warmtoast]

It seems my memory was not at fault as further research with Flight International provided the following.


Martin Baker – Paris 1961 — Flight Magazine 25th May 1961

Perhaps the most interesting exhibit will be the prototype rocket assisted ejection seat which Martin-Baker hope to have on display. This rocket seat will have zero-speed/zero-altitude capability and is especially suited to VTOL aircraft. During the flying programme at Le Bourget on June 3 and 4 it is hoped to demonstrate the capabilities of this seat from a ground rig mounted on a lorry and using a dummy subject.

Flight Magazine 8th June 1961

By no means all the participants were fixed-wing aeroplanes. There were both helicopters and parachutists, one of the latter being W. T. H. Hay of Martin-Baker, who made a dramatic rocket ejection from a stationary lorry. This was the first public demonstration of Martin-Baker’s newest ground-level ejection equipment, which shot Mr Hay about 300ft into the air. On the Saturday, owing to a crosswind, he unfortunately landed on the edge of the runway instead of on the grass.

[CoodaShooda]

Wasn't that the demonstration where the cleats on his boots 'caught' the runway surface as he landed and severely injured his knee?

[chiglet]

ISTR that they were a brand new pair of [French/American?] boots

[thunderflash]

@ Warmtoast ..... "Anyone like to comment please as to whether my memory is still sound about this event after 48-years?"

I was there, too, that Saturday, June 3, 1961, and I remember well the episode .....

[thunderflash]

I found this interesting video ..... but I do not think it refers to Le Bourget 1961 ..... perhaps a few months earlier .....

Early zero zero ejection seat - YouTube

..... photographers' clothing seems to be more suitable to the winter season .....