Side by side ejector seats
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,402
Likes: 858
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Banter not aimed at anyone in particular, chum. Just glad that I don't have to write single line sentences any more in keeping with DW requirements!
I didn't realise the poor chap had to sit there all that time whilst the armourers unbolted the pole though. Jet was quite a mess - it surprised as all how much damage the perspex fragments did to it.
I didn't realise the poor chap had to sit there all that time whilst the armourers unbolted the pole though. Jet was quite a mess - it surprised as all how much damage the perspex fragments did to it.
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 195
Likes: 2
From: Aus
A PC9 in Saudi had the opposite happen to the Hawk...Bloggs in front seat banged out at altitude (>15,000) with command off and the Instructor in back (after recovering from the shock of losing his student) had to recover back to Riyadh with the pole vibrating madly in front of him. He then had to wait for the pole to be removed before the canopy could be opened.
Nothing as logical as a spanner.... The engineers friend...a 10lb sledgehammer ..was used to pound the pole back to whence it had come thus allowing the pilot to exit.
Seemed Bloggs thought he was going to fall out when the aircraft rolled upside down and grabbed for the nearest handle
The Strikemaster SOP was for instructor to call "eject,eject eject" but for me if he was still there after 2 the third was an echo as I left.
MAx
Nothing as logical as a spanner.... The engineers friend...a 10lb sledgehammer ..was used to pound the pole back to whence it had come thus allowing the pilot to exit.
Seemed Bloggs thought he was going to fall out when the aircraft rolled upside down and grabbed for the nearest handle
The Strikemaster SOP was for instructor to call "eject,eject eject" but for me if he was still there after 2 the third was an echo as I left.
MAx
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: NSW Australia
Coziest I ever was was in the Vamp T11, in which I spent many happy hours, mostly as Sir in the right seat, now and again as Bloggs in the left for instrument ratings and suchlike. Can't remember how we briefed, probably the 'if I say go,go, otherwise you are on your own' variety.
I remember that for solo flying, a wooden facsimile of Sir, actually a wooden framework, was strapped into the right seat to stop the straps flailing about during aeros. The JP was far more sophisticated if I remember, with a canvas cover zipped up over the right hand seat straps.
The T4 Canberra was pretty cozy too.
I remember that for solo flying, a wooden facsimile of Sir, actually a wooden framework, was strapped into the right seat to stop the straps flailing about during aeros. The JP was far more sophisticated if I remember, with a canvas cover zipped up over the right hand seat straps.
The T4 Canberra was pretty cozy too.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 758
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From: NOTTINGHAM
Now then BEags, I fear that you are getting your limited time on the Bucc and your circa 500 hrs on the Tomb confused. I only ever flew one sortie in an F-4, an American one from Spangdahlem, but I did have a mate from Nav School who was killed in an F-4 in Germany when the pilot ejected at the same time as the Nav (against the SOP) and my mate took the front canopy full in the face.
The Buccaneer, I recall from a very long career on it, was not constrained in such a fashion. Only in the case of a pre-meditated ejection would the canopy be jettisoned and rear seat go first (Card 38 of the FRC refers). In all other cases simultaneous ejections were the Norm, the seats were offset left and right (which actually assisted forward vision for the Nav), had steel canopy breakers and were designed to penetrate the canopy in an emergency ejection. In latter years MDC was fitted to the Bucc canopy to ease one's passage even further!!
The only use of EJECT, EJECT, EJECT was to indicate one's intent that the mighty beast was in a terminal state and was to be committed to a lonely and uninhabited demise.
Now BEags, your facts are normally more accurate. Did you learn nothing on 237 or has time and so many types taken their toll?
The Buccaneer, I recall from a very long career on it, was not constrained in such a fashion. Only in the case of a pre-meditated ejection would the canopy be jettisoned and rear seat go first (Card 38 of the FRC refers). In all other cases simultaneous ejections were the Norm, the seats were offset left and right (which actually assisted forward vision for the Nav), had steel canopy breakers and were designed to penetrate the canopy in an emergency ejection. In latter years MDC was fitted to the Bucc canopy to ease one's passage even further!!
The only use of EJECT, EJECT, EJECT was to indicate one's intent that the mighty beast was in a terminal state and was to be committed to a lonely and uninhabited demise.
Now BEags, your facts are normally more accurate. Did you learn nothing on 237 or has time and so many types taken their toll?
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,402
Likes: 858
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
foldingwings, yes, you're absolutely right. Not enough time, too many years and types since then. Sorry to have spouted more bull$hit than ususal!
One fact I think do recall correctly was that you always checked with the nav before opening the canopy on the Bucc? Because there was a danger of impeding his ability to egress rapidly on the ground either by unstrapping and legging it or by Martin Baker? And also that if a probed Bucc was in danger of taking the barrier, the nav was likely to leave the a/c sharpish via the Martin-Baker option rather than risk the probe ending up in his face as the top cable bent it backwards? Or was that another fable?
One fact I think do recall correctly was that you always checked with the nav before opening the canopy on the Bucc? Because there was a danger of impeding his ability to egress rapidly on the ground either by unstrapping and legging it or by Martin Baker? And also that if a probed Bucc was in danger of taking the barrier, the nav was likely to leave the a/c sharpish via the Martin-Baker option rather than risk the probe ending up in his face as the top cable bent it backwards? Or was that another fable?
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: South Central UK
BEagle,
I recollect the probed Bucc vs Barrier issue was penetration of the rear cockpit space by the Barrier Cable due to the top cable being restrained too low by the probe crank. Decapitation of the rear seater was considered a possible outcome!
lm
I recollect the probed Bucc vs Barrier issue was penetration of the rear cockpit space by the Barrier Cable due to the top cable being restrained too low by the probe crank. Decapitation of the rear seater was considered a possible outcome!
lm
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 616
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From: Witney UK
Yes the JP had a seat cover for solo sorties. I do remember, Church Fenton 1966 I think, when one was left behind the canopy, not noticed and when the jet got airborne wrapped itself round the fin and stayed there. Fortunately after a rather exciting but very short trip the aircraft landed safely and Bloggs did not get any marks (except where he was beaten by QFI) for his pre-flights.
