Ejection Seats - Typhoon FGR4 & Hawk T1
Correct. M-B have never delivered a seat with cartridges fitted.
The various statements don't make it clear if it's the percussion cap or the filling, neither of which M-B make. However, it may be they're seen to deliver the assembled cartridge. The important thing is that, while annoying, the system picked the problem up.
The various statements don't make it clear if it's the percussion cap or the filling, neither of which M-B make. However, it may be they're seen to deliver the assembled cartridge. The important thing is that, while annoying, the system picked the problem up.
Martin-Baker Careers | Pyro Inspector (ciphr-irecruit.com)
Does anypne remember the days when the carts were filled using plastic measuring cups (apparently)!
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"...Tripoli has been embarked with up to 20 F-35Bs. Marine officials told USNI News on Friday [29 Jul 2022] that its F-35Bs were not grounded as part of the ongoing ejection seat problems. Specific lots of ejection seats across the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps — including F-35s — were found to have defective components. The services are in the process of clearing the seats for service with repairs. “Currently, Marine Corps F-35Bs are not grounded, and over 90 percent of the inspections on Marine Corps ejection seat cartridge actuating devices are now complete,” Marine Maj. Jay Hernandez told USNI News on Friday." https://news.usni.org/2022/08/01/car...renews-threats 01 Aug 2022
Glad to see you’ve still got an eye on the ball Tuc! 😉👏
So, just to recap. A sharp witted plumber (isn’t that an oxymoron?) spotted a potential problem, reported it and action was taken to resolve it PDQ? The ‘System’ working as advertised, it seems to me.
Of course, ‘The meejah’ will be pissed off because no nuns, nor balls of fire were seen by a Ms Jade Hoooeva of Birkenhead. ‘Aces officianados’ will make as much political capital out of it as they can, and pyro manufacturers (whoever they are….some outsourced to comply with US contract requirements, maybe?) will be nervous.
Personally I’m glad they found it.
Reminds me of many a time back in the EA, when a unit rep would call in to the office on a Tuesday saying “…..I’ve got a problem…what are you doing about it? “ Despite the DD bangin on about it 24/7, (love you George) It was always Friday afternoon before we were able to push out the warning instruction….😉
happydaze.
So, just to recap. A sharp witted plumber (isn’t that an oxymoron?) spotted a potential problem, reported it and action was taken to resolve it PDQ? The ‘System’ working as advertised, it seems to me.
Of course, ‘The meejah’ will be pissed off because no nuns, nor balls of fire were seen by a Ms Jade Hoooeva of Birkenhead. ‘Aces officianados’ will make as much political capital out of it as they can, and pyro manufacturers (whoever they are….some outsourced to comply with US contract requirements, maybe?) will be nervous.
Personally I’m glad they found it.
Reminds me of many a time back in the EA, when a unit rep would call in to the office on a Tuesday saying “…..I’ve got a problem…what are you doing about it? “ Despite the DD bangin on about it 24/7, (love you George) It was always Friday afternoon before we were able to push out the warning instruction….😉
happydaze.
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Another view of a complicated scenario it would appear: U.S. Air Force F-35s Join Grounded List With Martin-Baker Flaw | Aviation Week Network 29 Jul 2022 "...Although the US16 seat is affected, the Air Force said on July 28 there were no plans to ground the F-35A fleet due to the problem. The US16 [F-35 MB seat] has dual-redundant initiators for the cartridges, which the Air Force said mitigated the safety risk.... But the service decided to stand-down F-35As on July 29 in order to expedite the process of inspecting all of the cartridges exposed to the production defect, an Air Combat Command spokesman says...."
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 4th Aug 2022 at 19:49.
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All US Air Force F-35s are flying again after ejection seat checks (defensenews.com) 16 Aug 2022 "...Service technicians inspected 706 cartridges from 349 F-35s, as well as additional supplies of spare cartridges, Air Combat Command spokeswoman Alexi Worley said in an email Monday. The Air Force has about 376 F-35As in its fleet. Of those cartridges, inspectors felt four could have problems and were replaced. Worley said further inspection of those four suspect cartridges showed they were not defective...."
&
"...Martin-Baker, the company that manufactures the seats, also found two more defective cartridges in its own stores in April. The company also found, during a quality check that followed, that its production line was creating defective cartridges...."
&
"...Martin-Baker said in a statement to Air Force Times on Aug. 7 that ejection seat checks the military started in July uncovered no defective parts in any aircraft, leaving the one found at Hill Air Force Base in April the only bad cartridge found in an F-35."
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"...Martin-Baker, the company that manufactures the seats, also found two more defective cartridges in its own stores in April. The company also found, during a quality check that followed, that its production line was creating defective cartridges...."
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"...Martin-Baker said in a statement to Air Force Times on Aug. 7 that ejection seat checks the military started in July uncovered no defective parts in any aircraft, leaving the one found at Hill Air Force Base in April the only bad cartridge found in an F-35."
"The defective part was loose and missing the magnesium powder used to ignite the propellant that shoots someone to safety, Roberts said."
From that I take it only a very small amount of powder was missing. It would take someone with superhuman powers to say if a few grams of powder were present or not in a component that weighs a few kilos - give or take?
I strongly suspect the method of discovery was not "God-dang it Bert, this seems a mighty load lighter than it should be".
From that I take it only a very small amount of powder was missing. It would take someone with superhuman powers to say if a few grams of powder were present or not in a component that weighs a few kilos - give or take?
I strongly suspect the method of discovery was not "God-dang it Bert, this seems a mighty load lighter than it should be".
