Cabriolet Fighters
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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Cabriolet Fighters
Love the elbow over the side…
Test pilot Keith Hartley conducting a “cockpit habitability” test in an open top Tornado IDS (Circa 1988). Conducted at 500 knots this particularly ballzy test was designed to check Tornado's emergency escape procedures and handling.
Test pilot Keith Hartley conducting a “cockpit habitability” test in an open top Tornado IDS (Circa 1988). Conducted at 500 knots this particularly ballzy test was designed to check Tornado's emergency escape procedures and handling.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
XZ630 now parades daily at Halton 
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
My holiday goto film
has a Mirage rear canopy-less moment during the escape from the desert scene @2:35.
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Keith has some entertaining stories about his time test flying. Funnily enough he's also an excellent driver even if his car ( F Type, not a convertible ) does resemble a moving pillar box - must be something about being trained to analyse systems and get the best out of them.
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The USAAF used to remove the top superstructure from B17s in order to use them as 'guided bombers' loaded with explosives during WW2 - after the crews bailed out of course
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 75' from the runway edge and 150' from the threshold
Age: 74
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Cabrio F4
When on duty in the RWC at Brüggen heard the call “Matz crosser, north to south 1500 feet” shortly thereafter I watched as a Wildenrath Phantom flew over just beyond the threshold with what looked like a big pole sticking out of the back of the rear cockpit and no canopy (or Navigator!). Found out later that the crew involved were “mixing it” with a Canberra and the nav thought that things were about to come to a sudden end and elected for a Martin Baker let down. I’m sure there are other ppruners who can add to this story
There is a short video of an Su-57 flying without canopy ,on `War Zone`/Google.
When on duty in the RWC at Brüggen heard the call “Matz crosser, north to south 1500 feet” shortly thereafter I watched as a Wildenrath Phantom flew over just beyond the threshold with what looked like a big pole sticking out of the back of the rear cockpit and no canopy (or Navigator!). Found out later that the crew involved were “mixing it” with a Canberra and the nav thought that things were about to come to a sudden end and elected for a Martin Baker let down. I’m sure there are other ppruners who can add to this story
Although on hat occasion it was a demo flight for the Battle Group Commander!
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/stor...eously-bailed/
e said he didn’t know where to put his hands. Consequently, he just left them in loosely clenched fists on his lap, about two inches away from the ejection handle. It never occurred to me that someone would not know what to do with his hands. Obviously, I fly with the stick and throttle in my hands 95 percent of the flight, but I failed to consider his situation. The mishap board surmised that, during the inverted maneuver, he must have flinched when he slightly rose out of the seat and pulled the ejection handle. Now, before any brief, I try to place myself in the other person’s shoes (even if they are black shoes) and imagine what the flight will be like for him.”
Keith has some entertaining stories about his time test flying. Funnily enough he's also an excellent driver even if his car ( F Type, not a convertible ) does resemble a moving pillar box - must be something about being trained to analyse systems and get the best out of them.
A former colleague of mine (now deceased) had that experience during his RCAF days. As he told it, they were cruising at altitude in a CF-101 Voodoo, having left Winnipeg bound for North Bay, Ontario. It was about 01:00 on a crackling cold January night when overhead Thunder Bay, his RIO inadvertently blew the canopy. He described it as an incredible surprise coming during a low-arousal phase of flight and time of night. Followed by a very cold descent into YQT and a henceforth chilly relationship with the perpetrator.
Had a F15E land at Valley in the late 90s without the WISO. They had a bird strike near Aberystwyth at LL, the WISO left quickly as they thought it was all going badly wrong. Aircraft minus 1 POB, made a silky smooth landing and then the pilot gingerly stepped out of his duck struck aircraft quickly, not knowing if his seat might depart. The canopy frame was still there, but most of the canopy was shattered and no doubt spread over mid Wales and the oggin. It spent a few weeks in the hangar being repaired before it left with the correct compliment of crew again.
cheers