What's it like to eject from an F-111?

[Fris B. Fairing]

Forty-four years, almost to the day, after AVM Dave Rogers and AIRCDRE Peter Growder ejected from an RAAF F-111 in New Zealand, they have been reunited in the cockpit of F-111C A8-129 at the Queensland Air Museum to tell their story.

QAM Audio Podcast by Garry Hills

[India Four Two]

Excellent and informative podcast on a fascinating subject.

The USAF training film is worth watching before listening to the interview.

You Tube

[rolling20]

Many moons ago, I sat in the cockpit of an F-111 in its shelter @ Upper Heyford, being briefed by the crew beforehand.
I was most impressed by the WSO arriving at the shelter in his Porsche 924 and the M16 armed guard.
I seem to remember the WSO telling me that the control column worked as a pump if the capsule ditched in water.
I am still not sure if he was 'pulling my leg'!

[Haraka]

Rolling 20
No , he was not pulling your leg. The control column worked being pumped one way as a bilge pump to remove water and at 90deg to that action as an air pump to the flotation bag ( We still had a working cockpit mock up at the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine in the late 60s )

[rolling20]

Originally Posted by Haraka

Rolling 20
No , he was not pulling your leg. The control column worked being pumped one way as a bilge pump to remove water and at 90deg to that action as an air pump to the flotation bag ( We still had a working cockpit mock up at the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine in the late 60s )

Thank you Haraka.