Just seen the BBC news - some spotter recorded the r/t between the pilot & YM, gave (or sold?) it to the BBC & they've just broadcast it. I thought that was illegal here?

ap.

RIP

man sep handle
 

It's no longer possible to operate the man sep handle without first pulling the seat firing handle, so there could not be a repeat of the harrier man sep accident of a few years ago.

Man' Sep'
 

It wasn't supposed to be possible then, either.

Well sort of: See here

My condolences to the friends and family and my thoughts go out to all who are involved.

So what happened
 

I was chatting with some ex BAE guys and we couldn't understand how this happened. Did he eject, fall out or what. Does anyone know or is it confidential.


Condolences to his family.

HI,
I'm an ex armourer (F/A-18's RAAF and Tornado BAe in Saudi). I'm thinking that the aircraft has just come out of servicing, hence the BAe crew and someone hasn't locked the seat onto the rails properley. I'm thinking someone could be in deep doo doo over this one. Sorry to hear of the loss of a good man over probably someone's stuff up.

Marty1648

There is a full board of Inquiry happening on this matter.

You have every right of freedom of speech to speculate publicily.

However I would ask you to refrain on guessing what happened (even if you are well versed on the construction of the Tornado escape system).

Sorry Alber R,

No harm intended. Just my thoughts on the most probable in answer to Red Top Comanche's post. Wont happen again...

There are a few posts laying the blame squarely on the shoulders of the plumbers who fitted the seats.

A quick Google will bring up several hits about top latch failure.

Perhaps those posters will take a look at Lt Keith Gallagher's partial ejection from an A-6.

They will find the top latch window failed due to repetitive stresses induced by negative G.

Further checks revealed several other ejection guns with questionable top latch windows.

PLEASE, stop speculating and apportioning blame when you have no evidence to do so.

The guys at Marham are feeling sh*tty enough without having to read your kangaroo court judgements.

I'm all for free speech, but please wait for the findings of the BOI before slagging off the engineers.

Soapbox now back under the stairs.

Hallampilot

HallamPilot,

I agree totally with the second half of your post asking people to stop speculating.....

Pity you didn't take your own advice with the first half of the post where you talk about historic top latch failures that are largely irrelevant to what has unfortunately happened.:=

A top latch failure is just one of the many failure modes/circumstances that could have been the cause.....

please guys let's stop being 'instant experts' and surmising based on crew room talk and let the board of inquiry do its job.



Once a brat.......always a brat - Trenchard's Finest!

I can only assume that you must be part of the investigating team at Marham, to class historic top latch failures as 'irrelevent'.

The top latch still locates in a window, so there is still a chance of failure.

In my humble opinion.

And many of the Armourers here at Lossie.

The point I WAS trying to make is that there may be many other circumstances that led to this tragic event OTHER than the guys who fitted the seat.:ugh:

HallamPilot,

I wholeheartedly applaude your sentiments and totally agree with them ........ there are many other failure modes other than human error.

No offence was meant and none taken I hope, I certainly didn't want to 'humble' your opinion. I just felt that by referring to historic top latch failures that you were fuelling speculation that the top latch, or window, is the only cause and there is enough conjecture on this subject out there without adding to it because the 'instant experts' will then take it as gospel. Historic events are exactly that, history; all plumbers know the seriousness of a (in)correct top latch assembly. And no, I am not part of the team at Marham (thankfully) but have been involved on the edge of the investigation.


Lets remember about the possible legal ramifications for the seat team and/or MOD not forgetting that one poor soul has lost his life, RIP Mike.


Once a brat.......always a brat - Trenchard's Finest!

I really do think that this thread has run its course. Speculation never achieves anything in the long run.

We will all know the reason in due course.

PPP