Ejecting On A Martin Baker Seat
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Ejection
I have few of my friends who have ejected once or twice from MB from Mig-19 and Mig-21. They are still flying. There were incidents in which depending on the state of the flight and the posture at the time of ejection they had compression iin the back or problems related to ejection showing later in life.
Frank
Frank
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Ejecting
Does anyone remember the details about a Lightning crash back in the 60s, I think.
I can remember the photo in a newspaper of the aircraft mostly intact on the ground.
The news story went like this - pilot tried to eject but system did not work. Therefore he tried to land it. When ac hit the ground the ejector seat operated and the pilot was killed going through the canopy.
Does anyone remember this incident and know the details?
I can remember the photo in a newspaper of the aircraft mostly intact on the ground.
The news story went like this - pilot tried to eject but system did not work. Therefore he tried to land it. When ac hit the ground the ejector seat operated and the pilot was killed going through the canopy.
Does anyone remember this incident and know the details?
I can remember being told about the same or similar incident by a RAF QFI.
As related by him, the Lightning pilot had done a precautionary shut-down of one engine, when shortly afterwards the other engine failed. The pilot then managed to relight the first engine in an attempt to limp to the nearest available airfield on much reduced power. When it became apparent that he might not make it, he decided to eject, but the seat did not function. After a successful forced landing, the seat fired but was outside the limits to save the pilot.
I can't vouch for the accuracy, just the best that I recall being told. I think it's also been mentioned elsewhere on PPRuNE, but a search has so far not found it.
As related by him, the Lightning pilot had done a precautionary shut-down of one engine, when shortly afterwards the other engine failed. The pilot then managed to relight the first engine in an attempt to limp to the nearest available airfield on much reduced power. When it became apparent that he might not make it, he decided to eject, but the seat did not function. After a successful forced landing, the seat fired but was outside the limits to save the pilot.
I can't vouch for the accuracy, just the best that I recall being told. I think it's also been mentioned elsewhere on PPRuNE, but a search has so far not found it.
That's intriguing, I'd heard that every (operational) MB seat ever operated within the envelope had functioned correctly and as advertised! Does this mean it's all publicity....? Am concerned for my (to me at least!) extremely precious backside now....
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I escaped from Jaguar T2 XX828 (we both did) June 1st 1981.
Chute opened at 200ft according to Boscombe ballistics and it transpired that the aircraft rate of descent was so high that neither seat was ever moving upwards during the sequence. A very smooth ride and it didn't hurt one bit. Felt the heat of the fireball and landed only 25 yards from it - if there had not been any wind I dread to think what would have happened!
There followed a nice letter from Martin Baker and the mounted handle sits in my hallway.
Martin Baker - it does exactly what it says on the tin....
JP
Chute opened at 200ft according to Boscombe ballistics and it transpired that the aircraft rate of descent was so high that neither seat was ever moving upwards during the sequence. A very smooth ride and it didn't hurt one bit. Felt the heat of the fireball and landed only 25 yards from it - if there had not been any wind I dread to think what would have happened!
There followed a nice letter from Martin Baker and the mounted handle sits in my hallway.
Martin Baker - it does exactly what it says on the tin....
JP
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pba_target, AFAIK in this case the seat was outside its envelope; at the time the Lightning had a zero-90 seat (Zero feet minimum, but 90 knots). Glad I wasn't aware of any T5-specific problems before my trip though!
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Martin Baker seats
Perhaps we should not forget the accident which killed Lt. Cdr Taylor Scott RN, Harrier Test Pilot operating from Dunsfold.
He was doing a routine test flight on a GR5 ( ZD325 ) when the drogue fired undemanded at 35,000 ft, dragging him through the canopy.
The chute was shredded on the tail temperature probe, and he fell to his death.
The aircraft carried on under autopilot, and was photographed with the seat still in by a Galaxy sent to look when the radio went unanswered.
No cast-iron fault was ever found, theories range from him motoring the seat down to avoid the evening sun, onto a wander lamp which had fallen from it's stowage on the aft bulkhead ( now deleted ).
I photographed attempts to recreate this, I believe out of 40 or so tries it worked once - usually the seat just sprang sideways.
Another theory was that the new OBOGS failed and he became hypoxic, pulling the manual separation instead of 100% oxygen.
In theory an interlock prevents manual separation working unless the main eject handle has already been pulled, but in reality checks found the interlock ineffective on many seats.
The fact the Mk 12 was the first MB seat to incorporate electronics caused a bit of pondering too.
Personally from my unenlightened view, I've always thought the fact Taylor was doing cabin pressurisation checks might be relevant - barostatic release...
After this, initially GR5's were stored grounded in specially brought in temporary hangars, then later allowed to fly at less than 10,000, then finally cleared.
There is a memorial to Taylor ( which also mentions Jim Hawkins who died in the 1st Hawk 200, (remember the Hawk is a Dunsfold, not Warton, product ! ), Bill Bedford and to the P1127 itself - used to be the gate guardian briefly -beside an ex ETPS Hunter at Dunsfold.
There's also a simple brass plaque ' died testing' on a beam in the pub outside Dunsfold, the Three Compasses.
His family were never even told about these simple memorials until his brother stumbled on something on www.harrier.org.uk
- which says a lot about late BAe...
I'm not sure how this tallies with 'every seat tried worked' statistics...
He was doing a routine test flight on a GR5 ( ZD325 ) when the drogue fired undemanded at 35,000 ft, dragging him through the canopy.
The chute was shredded on the tail temperature probe, and he fell to his death.
The aircraft carried on under autopilot, and was photographed with the seat still in by a Galaxy sent to look when the radio went unanswered.
No cast-iron fault was ever found, theories range from him motoring the seat down to avoid the evening sun, onto a wander lamp which had fallen from it's stowage on the aft bulkhead ( now deleted ).
I photographed attempts to recreate this, I believe out of 40 or so tries it worked once - usually the seat just sprang sideways.
Another theory was that the new OBOGS failed and he became hypoxic, pulling the manual separation instead of 100% oxygen.
In theory an interlock prevents manual separation working unless the main eject handle has already been pulled, but in reality checks found the interlock ineffective on many seats.
The fact the Mk 12 was the first MB seat to incorporate electronics caused a bit of pondering too.
Personally from my unenlightened view, I've always thought the fact Taylor was doing cabin pressurisation checks might be relevant - barostatic release...
After this, initially GR5's were stored grounded in specially brought in temporary hangars, then later allowed to fly at less than 10,000, then finally cleared.
There is a memorial to Taylor ( which also mentions Jim Hawkins who died in the 1st Hawk 200, (remember the Hawk is a Dunsfold, not Warton, product ! ), Bill Bedford and to the P1127 itself - used to be the gate guardian briefly -beside an ex ETPS Hunter at Dunsfold.
There's also a simple brass plaque ' died testing' on a beam in the pub outside Dunsfold, the Three Compasses.
His family were never even told about these simple memorials until his brother stumbled on something on www.harrier.org.uk
- which says a lot about late BAe...
I'm not sure how this tallies with 'every seat tried worked' statistics...
Last edited by Double Zero; 3rd Apr 2007 at 16:18. Reason: spelling
