Pig Escape Capsule
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Pig Escape Capsule
A question for any Pig drivers (sensible answers please).
Booger... if you're there?
If a Pig crew decide they need to depart the aircraft in flight... where's the punch out handle... same place as on a standard ejection seat i.e. right next to the family jewels?
And what's the separation mechanism with control linkages etc?
Is there some sort of explosive bolt arrangement?
I assume there would be some kind of seal around push rods etc (it's not fly by wire is it) to preserve pressurisation/water tightness (the capsule can float - am I right).
Booger... if you're there?
If a Pig crew decide they need to depart the aircraft in flight... where's the punch out handle... same place as on a standard ejection seat i.e. right next to the family jewels?
And what's the separation mechanism with control linkages etc?
Is there some sort of explosive bolt arrangement?
I assume there would be some kind of seal around push rods etc (it's not fly by wire is it) to preserve pressurisation/water tightness (the capsule can float - am I right).
Thread Starter
Toys
Yep... along with the Tonka trucks as well...
Ta... just found the link.
Anyone know any stories of anyone who's actually used it?
Ta... just found the link.
Anyone know any stories of anyone who's actually used it?
Last edited by tartare; 20th Dec 2007 at 21:16.
Assuming the Pig is the F-111 then:
http://www.f-111.net/ejection.htm
http://www.f-111.net/ejection.htm
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From the reviewing officer of my graduation....
"If you can imagine falling from a roof of a one story building in a wooden rocking chair to the ground...you will appreciate the landing in the F111 capsule after ejection"
From the then FLTLT A. Curr Navigator of A8-137 piloted by FLGOFF M.
Kelly at RNZAF Ohakea after injesting water at RNZAF Ohakea on 24/08/79 at 90 kts off RWY 27.
108 ATC Hoo Hah!
From the then FLTLT A. Curr Navigator of A8-137 piloted by FLGOFF M.
Kelly at RNZAF Ohakea after injesting water at RNZAF Ohakea on 24/08/79 at 90 kts off RWY 27.
108 ATC Hoo Hah!
Last edited by Fox3snapshot; 20th Dec 2007 at 21:55.
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Pig Ejection
I can't be certain but I think the Pig Modules were upgraded with larger canopies to reduce post ejection landing forces. I remember being told by our life support people that the new chutes were compressed over a week to extract all the moisture prior to being packed into the module bins. If you were to cut through a packed chute, it would appear as dense as Oak. 
Thread Starter
Tks V. Much
Outstanding fellas... thanks v. much.
Scary photo at the end of the runway.
The other crash I remember was the splashdown off Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf in `78.
Wheel well fire... and the boys had to pull the pin.
Fascinating aircraft.
Scary photo at the end of the runway.
The other crash I remember was the splashdown off Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf in `78.
Wheel well fire... and the boys had to pull the pin.
Fascinating aircraft.
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Yep,
They modified the nosewheel tyres with a large Chine to divert the spray post this crash.
Will try to find a more up to date cockpit piccy. The ones above are all pre-avionics mod and somewhat archaic....Ahhh the glory days of actually having to navigate!!
They modified the nosewheel tyres with a large Chine to divert the spray post this crash.
Will try to find a more up to date cockpit piccy. The ones above are all pre-avionics mod and somewhat archaic....Ahhh the glory days of actually having to navigate!!
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If I recall two aircraft lined up on the runway, lead on right and accident aircraft on left. Runway was not well drained with water pooling on the sides. Had the aircraft "crowned" the runway (tracked the centre line), rather than maintain the left half of the runway, would have been OK. Was not a pairs (formation) take off.
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Old Cockpit...
Is that with or without your Hat then AA?
I remember Big Al saying that the landing was something about a 30 storey building in addition to the tied to the chair thing.
At least you would land with all your stuff that you brought into the cockpit. - Cocktails anyone (Recce 'In' joke).
You should see the 'alternate' escape method if the 'primary' system fails..
There is (was) a warning in the Flight Manual that advisses you not to release the chute until after you land. (sound advice really).
The weight differential is an issue - especially if you are flying with a fat chick.
Brian, I seem to recall that is was a four-ship MARSTK, and the other three continued with the trip with a 'lost' Number 4.
I remember Big Al saying that the landing was something about a 30 storey building in addition to the tied to the chair thing.
At least you would land with all your stuff that you brought into the cockpit. - Cocktails anyone (Recce 'In' joke).
You should see the 'alternate' escape method if the 'primary' system fails..
There is (was) a warning in the Flight Manual that advisses you not to release the chute until after you land. (sound advice really).
The weight differential is an issue - especially if you are flying with a fat chick.
Brian, I seem to recall that is was a four-ship MARSTK, and the other three continued with the trip with a 'lost' Number 4.
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I don't recall two aircraft, but then there have been a few cases of Coonawarra red in the meantime! The aircraft lost thrust due to water ingestion and as they were rapidly running out of runway they[ correctly] decide to leave! The approach end of 09, the runway they left via, had a earth ramp down to the bomb dump service road [there are bunkers to the right of its exit] and the aurcraft went down the ramp, and into the paddocks at the end. The capsule came down very near to the remains of the airframe and the crash crew placed a vehicle between the capsule and the burning bits.. As I recall, there were
no injuries other than an element of surprise at the sudden transition from aircraft to ground.
There was a sequel to the story in that the RAAF sent over an investigation team headed by a Gp Capt, who became very friendly with the then Firemaster, a Warrant Officer. Come time for the team to go home and a Herc arrives to collect them. The Duty Free they had purchased down town was in the Customs lock-up in stores and , as usual, the Duty Storeman couldn't be located. Grp Capt rings up the Firemaster and explains that "we need to go and can't get the duty free etc", and said WO, says: "No worries Sir, I have a key" He opened up the main store, and produced a crowbar for the lock-up!
Headlines in the Dominion newspaper said, "RAAF accident inquiry head praises RNZAF crash crew".
no injuries other than an element of surprise at the sudden transition from aircraft to ground.There was a sequel to the story in that the RAAF sent over an investigation team headed by a Gp Capt, who became very friendly with the then Firemaster, a Warrant Officer. Come time for the team to go home and a Herc arrives to collect them. The Duty Free they had purchased down town was in the Customs lock-up in stores and , as usual, the Duty Storeman couldn't be located. Grp Capt rings up the Firemaster and explains that "we need to go and can't get the duty free etc", and said WO, says: "No worries Sir, I have a key" He opened up the main store, and produced a crowbar for the lock-up!
Headlines in the Dominion newspaper said, "RAAF accident inquiry head praises RNZAF crash crew".
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Escape module has impact attenuation bags which inflate and soften the touch down with a secondary purpose to keep it floating right side up in water. If the module has a leak or water gets in when you are riding a wave then the left seater will plead with the right seater to vigourously move the stick back and forth to operate the bilge pump.
Never did find the bilge though! Come on Navy - where would it have been?
If you are close to the hard stuff beneath then it is not a good idea to pull one of those black and yellow handles until you are right side up.
Anyone know the highest IAS/Mach No seperation?
Never did find the bilge though! Come on Navy - where would it have been?
If you are close to the hard stuff beneath then it is not a good idea to pull one of those black and yellow handles until you are right side up.
Anyone know the highest IAS/Mach No seperation?
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Bilge Pump
C'Mon Milt,
Everyone knows that the Bilge pump only works on the Stick on the side which has the pin that has to be moved....ie: Drivers do the pumping!!
LJR - The replacement for said hat served very well last week at the Langkawi airshow......To prove that the learning curve still maintains a small degree of positive vector, said hat went to/from Langkawi in the MXU Pod vice the seat top!!!
Everyone knows that the Bilge pump only works on the Stick on the side which has the pin that has to be moved....ie: Drivers do the pumping!!
LJR - The replacement for said hat served very well last week at the Langkawi airshow......To prove that the learning curve still maintains a small degree of positive vector, said hat went to/from Langkawi in the MXU Pod vice the seat top!!!