IN THE CONTINUOUS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE IN AIRCREW SAFETY
Mr. K. R. Yates, S Eng. Finst.SMM.AIAA.
Ever since Orville Wright first took to the sky in 1903 there has been a constant pursuit to provide aircrew with the safest possible means of survival in the event of an emergency.
The safest way down to earth from a disabled or out-of-control aircraft has always been by parachute. The Germans were the first to issue parachutes to aircraft crews and it was not until several years after the First World War, in 1926, that the Irvin parachute was introduced into the RAF. As aircraft performance capability increased, conventional bale-out, either over the side of the cockpit, or escape through a hatch became virtually impossible. In fact, as information compiled from German sources showed, once aircraft speeds exceeded 200 m.p.h. the chances of making a successful escape were less than even. In combat conditions, where injury to the pilot, aircrew disorientation and unfavourable g conditions in out-of-control aircraft were all likely to occur, escape was often impossible; a fact that was very apparent by the large number of aircrew losses sustained during the height of World War II. Commendable attempts were made to improve on the chances of successful escape by provision of escape hatches, jettison canopy hoods, and blast deflection devices, but the introduction of the first jet aircraft into service clearly emphasised the need for a more positive means of escape. After various emergency escape methods were investigated, it soon became apparent that the only practical solution was to eject the aircraft seat, with its occupant, from the aircraft by means of an explosive activated catapult device fitted to the seat.
Since the post war research and early successes which were carried out on basic ejection seat designs by both the German and Swedish authorities and the continuation of this work in both the U.K. and U.S.A., remarkable progress has been made in the constant development of the ejection seat and full integration of aircrew life support systems for improved escape performance capability and injury free aircrew recovery.
This paper acknowledges the early work that was carried out on
ejection seats in Germany and Sweden, and outlines the transition
of these efforts into the designs which were finally adopted by the
British and Americans. This paper also presents the major
milestones in ejection seat development which have been achieved
to-date, and outlines some of the high technology escape system
features which are currently integrated into aircraft designs such
as the Eurofighter and Rafale. In conclusion, the paper briefly
reviews the latest Systems Engineering methodologies and computer
software tools, which are now being introduced to support future
escape system development work.
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