Red Arrows Incident
Discussion
Martin-Baker bang seats have not had a Face Blind (top) handle since the Mk9 (which was developed for Harrier/Jaguar and which was the first dedicated rocket seat design).
While it is true to say that the Face Blind handle was always better for ejection posture, especially on the earlier gun only seats, and pulling the handle (slightly) forward and down meant that the face blind protected the face from wind blast (note the pilot did not tuck his/her head behind the blind, the blind was an integral part of the top handle), it took a finite amount of time to reach up and pull the handle. Ok if you are at 20,000ft, not so good if you are down in the 'weedosphere' and need to get out fast.
With the change in tactics towards operating at low level there was deemed to be no need for a top handle. Additionally it meant that the head box (from the later Mk9 seats on) could be used to store the parachute. It's all about reducing the time delay between the ejection decision and the seat actually leaving the a/c.
Yes, using the bottom handle puts you at greater risk of spinal injury (especially in a situation where a pre-meditated ejection isn't possible), however this is (somewhat) offset by the fact that the rocket seats have a smoother acceleration profile compared to the earlier gun only seats.
While it is true to say that the Face Blind handle was always better for ejection posture, especially on the earlier gun only seats, and pulling the handle (slightly) forward and down meant that the face blind protected the face from wind blast (note the pilot did not tuck his/her head behind the blind, the blind was an integral part of the top handle), it took a finite amount of time to reach up and pull the handle. Ok if you are at 20,000ft, not so good if you are down in the 'weedosphere' and need to get out fast.
With the change in tactics towards operating at low level there was deemed to be no need for a top handle. Additionally it meant that the head box (from the later Mk9 seats on) could be used to store the parachute. It's all about reducing the time delay between the ejection decision and the seat actually leaving the a/c.
Yes, using the bottom handle puts you at greater risk of spinal injury (especially in a situation where a pre-meditated ejection isn't possible), however this is (somewhat) offset by the fact that the rocket seats have a smoother acceleration profile compared to the earlier gun only seats.
Thanks Ginetta.
The nearest I have to direct experience is sitting in an unarmed ejection seat from a Vulcan and being invited to pull the top handle. There was a surprisingly long sequence of clicking and whirring before the big click that meant it would have fired. I think if I'd been trying to bail out I'd probably have gone for the seat handle as well while I was waiting.
The nearest I have to direct experience is sitting in an unarmed ejection seat from a Vulcan and being invited to pull the top handle. There was a surprisingly long sequence of clicking and whirring before the big click that meant it would have fired. I think if I'd been trying to bail out I'd probably have gone for the seat handle as well while I was waiting.
Indeed, hence Seat Pan as well as Face Blind handles.
To expand upon the nature of ejection injury, generally speaking the injuries are compression fractures to the spine and flail injuries to the limbs (the latter occuring especially in high speed ejections).
Traditionally seats have been fitted with leg restraints to draw the legs back and aid in preventing flail injury. Modern seats from the later Mk10 onwards (as fitted to Tornado) are fitted with arm restraints as well.
WRT spinal compression injuries, these are more likely if the head is allowed to roll forward as the seat rises up the rails. While the seat harness power retraction system helps in this respect, good ejection posture is the most significant factor.
To expand upon the nature of ejection injury, generally speaking the injuries are compression fractures to the spine and flail injuries to the limbs (the latter occuring especially in high speed ejections).
Traditionally seats have been fitted with leg restraints to draw the legs back and aid in preventing flail injury. Modern seats from the later Mk10 onwards (as fitted to Tornado) are fitted with arm restraints as well.
WRT spinal compression injuries, these are more likely if the head is allowed to roll forward as the seat rises up the rails. While the seat harness power retraction system helps in this respect, good ejection posture is the most significant factor.
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
WRT spinal compression injuries, these are more likely if the head is allowed to roll forward as the seat rises up the rails. While the seat harness power retraction system helps in this respect, good ejection posture is the most significant factor.
Craig Penrice instinctively went for the pan handle when he had to vacate Hunter F.6, G-BVVC back in 2003 (being a then current BAe TP and having already used a MB seat to vacate an uncooperative Lightning F.6 during his RAF service 18 years earlier) and suffered a shattered vertebrae, and talking to ex-Hunter pilots after the event, they all mentioned they would have used the face screen for better ejection posture in that older type seat.I believe this 2nd ejection ended his fast-jet flying career.
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