Overview

The Pre-Mk.1 seat used by Bernard Lynch was completely re-designed after the first few tests, to allow for production on a quantity basis. Another series series of dummy ejections was also repeated, perfecting the design of the drogue and its stowage and curing the various teething troubles which developed. Finally, on 19th August 1947, Lynch again ejected himself, this time at 12,000 feet at an indicated air speed of 420 m.p.h. He landed safely, and afterwards stated that no shocks had been felt, even at this high speed. This successfully demonstrated the smoothness of the ejection gun, the effective protection of the face screen and the efficiency of the stabilising drogue.

In June of the same year the authorities had decided to standardise the Martin-Baker Ejection Seat for installation in all new service jet aircraft, and the work of production and installation was put in hand for Meteor, Attacker, Wyvern, Canberra and later the Sea Hawk and Venom aircraft.

These were the original versions of the Mk. 1 seat and incorporated the same features as the experimental seat used by Lynch except that the 24 foot seat recovery parachute was dispensed with, the occupant had to unfasten his seat harness and fall away from the seat after the drogue had done its work of stabilising and slowing down the seat. In addition these seats were provided with a seat pan capable of being raised and lowered to accommodate pilots of varying stature without increasing the height of the seat, adjustable foot rests, and integral thigh guards to prevent the occupant’s legs being forced apart by air blast.

The seat was guided during ejection by four rollers on the seat structure running in a guide rail assembly bolted to the aircraft structure, the ejection gun being located within the hollow guide rail assembly.

A considerable number of emergency escapes were made with these manually operated seats, which fully justified their introduction in Service aircraft. Their limitations, however, were already obvious and the idea of making the whole sequence of events automatic began to take shape.

Specifications

How it works

Face screen seat firing handle pulled
Two ejection gun cartridges fire, seat moves up guide rails
Oxygen supply tripped
Static line fires drogue gun after seat has risen by 24 ft
24/22 in. dia then 5 ft dia drogues stabilise and slow seat
Aircrew unfastens seat harness and pushes clear of seat
Aircrew pulls ripcord on personal parachute