Eject! Eject! - John Nichol
Hi John, looking forward to reading this - I am reserving the book for holiday reading in August.
Timelord, I am more shocked that the VSOs didn't kick up more of a stink - I wonder if proximity to the war conditioned attitudes to crew losses, even as a child of the 60s I had friends who were sons of bomber aircrew, I remember one's dad telling me he was one of only 3 on his flying course who who survived the war.
Timelord, I am more shocked that the VSOs didn't kick up more of a stink - I wonder if proximity to the war conditioned attitudes to crew losses, even as a child of the 60s I had friends who were sons of bomber aircrew, I remember one's dad telling me he was one of only 3 on his flying course who who survived the war.
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The loss rates in years gone by were eye watering, everyone talks about the F-104, but the Supermarine Scimitar had a 51% loss rate, being a carrier aircraft didn't help in that regard.
The stats for the meteor in service are pretty grim. The 2 seaters were extremely difficult to exit. Perhaps Ironic that the current test vehicles are, of course….Meteor 7.5s and have been used to test every Mk of MB seat to date.
Perhaps Ironic that the current test vehicles are, of course….Meteor 7.5s and have been used to test every Mk of MB seat to date.
I believe the bale out procedure was to get rid of the canopy, undo your straps and invert the aircraft and fall out?
Unfortunately, he's not here to confirm, and its been a while, but I'm pretty sure that's what he said.
Walking past a bookshop in York earlier this week noticed a signed copy of Eject! Eject! in the window for sale at Ł2 off RRP. Reminded me of the late Eric Grove, when I asked him if he would sign a copy of one of his books, joking there were so few unsigned copies they were probably worth more.
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I wasn't going to buy this book as I didn't think it would be that interesting, but after reading some of the comments in this thread I bought it a couple of months ago and started on it this week. I'm only about a third of the way through and it is riveting. Last night I was on the section about the A1 in Vietnam and it mentioned the Stanley Yankee extraction system. I'd never heard of this and have spent some time today looking this up on the internet and came across this on youtube.
I have never been in a fast jet but if I was ever in that situation I'd be more inclined to stay with the aircraft and hope for the best, rather than risk ejection. Ever the (posthumous) optomist.
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Just finished 'Eject Eject' and couldn't put it down once started. Originally thought it would be just a series of chapters focusing on just the ejection event, however really appreciated the work that must have gone into researching the backstories of those who ejected. Fantastic read which leaves just one question "any plans for Volume 2"?
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Reading the account of the failed ejections due to life expired explosives brought to mind a conversation I had some 20 years ago. I answered the phone one afternoon and found myself speaking to a retired senior officer. The gist of the conversation was he wanted me to provide a copy of the document that gave particular ticket holders in the IPT authority from the OEM to extend the life of installed assisted escape system explosives. I politely told him I couldn't release such a document to a non-MoD individual and that was that. I was told to expect a call from a VSO as my refusal would put in jeopardy this particular aircraft's display season. When I was serving I didn't take kindly to officers using their rank and as a civvie I was not going to be intimidated. My only suggestion was for him to contact the OEM whereupon he cited the expense. Never heard back and I doubt if MBA acquiesced. But it did make me wonder just how old were these cartridges. In his excellent book JN illustrates the folly of using explosives past their 'sell by' date.
Reading the account of the failed ejections due to life expired explosives brought to mind a conversation I had some 20 years ago. I answered the phone one afternoon and found myself speaking to a retired senior officer. The gist of the conversation was he wanted me to provide a copy of the document that gave particular ticket holders in the IPT authority from the OEM to extend the life of installed assisted escape system explosives. I politely told him I couldn't release such a document to a non-MoD individual and that was that. I was told to expect a call from a VSO as my refusal would put in jeopardy this particular aircraft's display season. When I was serving I didn't take kindly to officers using their rank and as a civvie I was not going to be intimidated. My only suggestion was for him to contact the OEM whereupon he cited the expense. Never heard back and I doubt if MBA acquiesced. But it did make me wonder just how old were these cartridges. In his excellent book JN illustrates the folly of using explosives past their 'sell by' date.
Reading the account of the failed ejections due to life expired explosives brought to mind a conversation I had some 20 years ago. I answered the phone one afternoon and found myself speaking to a retired senior officer. The gist of the conversation was he wanted me to provide a copy of the document that gave particular ticket holders in the IPT authority from the OEM to extend the life of installed assisted escape system explosives. I politely told him I couldn't release such a document to a non-MoD individual and that was that. I was told to expect a call from a VSO as my refusal would put in jeopardy this particular aircraft's display season. When I was serving I didn't take kindly to officers using their rank and as a civvie I was not going to be intimidated. My only suggestion was for him to contact the OEM whereupon he cited the expense. Never heard back and I doubt if MBA acquiesced. But it did make me wonder just how old were these cartridges. In his excellent book JN illustrates the folly of using explosives past their 'sell by' date.