![]() 04/16/2014 at 13:29 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
Because ejection seats will never catch on, and aren't the best way out of a jet. Riiiiight.
![]() 04/16/2014 at 13:34 |
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looks like fun. Almost a relaxing way to eject. Peace out
![]() 04/16/2014 at 13:38 |
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Is the "eject" handle labeled "evacuate" or "flush"? I would re label mine if I were a pilot.
![]() 04/16/2014 at 13:41 |
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Also a bit Wallace & Gromit.
![]() 04/16/2014 at 13:45 |
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The sphincter.
![]() 04/16/2014 at 13:55 |
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Not quite as horrible as the downward ejecting seat in the early F-104's , but close.
![]() 04/16/2014 at 13:56 |
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That's why I love the gden age of jet aviation. Those guys would try just about anything to see if it would work. This is an interesting idea, but only in straight and level flight. It would be a bit difficult to slide out backwards in a dive. There are a handful of planes that ejected (or still do) downward. The B-52 has downward seats for the lower deck crewmen. The F-104 was originally fitted with a downward firing seat.
![]() 04/16/2014 at 13:59 |
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Meanwhile, the Valkyrie had a whole-nose ejection pod, because edge-of-space ejection at Mach 3 wasn't considered a great idea. Turns out, tumbling to the ground with the whole plane intact and crew still present isn't either...
Might have worked better at operational altitude, we'll never know.
![]() 04/16/2014 at 14:01 |
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A helicopter, a side-ways or down ejection seat is understandable, at least...
Which isn't to say there aren't helos that fire up, it's just that you better be able to trust in the explosive bolts on the rotor hub to work in those cases. Otherwise, LAWNMOWERED.
![]() 04/16/2014 at 14:20 |
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The reason for downward ejection on the original F-104's was that they were concerned the ejection seats couldn't reliably clear the tail. Which would result in SCYTHED!
![]() 04/16/2014 at 14:24 |
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The F-111 also has (had) an escape capsule.
![]() 04/16/2014 at 14:24 |
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Right, I'd forgotten. Which, as it got used heavily in the capacity its ground-following radar permitted, seems like a waste.
![]() 04/16/2014 at 15:06 |
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Wheeeeeeeeeee!
![]() 04/16/2014 at 23:36 |
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Lovely idea. Except at low altitude.