Martin-Baker MK10 Ejection Seat Tour

Dave Gledhill gives us a tour of a Martin-Baker MK10 Tornado Ejection seat based at Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre.

[TCleric]

First off, do love hearing from aircraft operators of their experiences on this channel. Sorry if this has been mentioned before but (from an ex-RAF Engineering officer) the parachute is in the headbox and ejection acceleration is just over 21g; limit set by Martin Baker at the start.

[gazza]

Crikey!
I could listen to Dave all day.
Fascinating stuff.
Thank you.

[johnwelty]

1971 VT24 Chase Field, TX ... Grumman TF9J..MB MK7 There was a balance beam scale in the locker room so that instructor pilots and student aviators could determine their EXACT weight in FULL FLIGHT GEAR (not naked weight). Per squadron instruction, this weight was dialed into the MK7 seat upon taking station in the aircraft. If this procedure was NOT in accordance with Martin-Baker specs, I am glad I never had to pull the handle.

[ZeroBravoZB]

Just baffles me as why 2 people didn't like it. What were you both expecting? Great looking seat, i have a fascination with MB seats.

[philwhitehead]

Did this person fly tornado? because either his memory is fading or he doesn't know the seat. Both parachutes, drogue and personal, were contained within the headbox so that the aircrew were not encumbered by having to wear a parachute pack. The Mk10 seat had/has ONE Safety pin in the seat firing handle, there are NO other Safety pins. All other safety features were either mechanical interlocks or timer release mechanisms operated during ejection. I have 15 years experience servicing these seats.

[richardsporker]

In the ejector seat of the Martin-Baker, the survival package is occupied by the MBEU and how it is maintained and used

[bulletproofkam]

The great British invention, and Martin-baker still supply's lots of modern fighters! Like the eurofighter, f35, Gripen ect ect. The British are the best.

[dannyrobertson]

The main parachute was actually in the head box as well as the drogue chute

[lucywucyyy]

40G god damn, how does that not break your spine

[AvengerII]

So, if you've flown any major tactical aircraft type in the West, chances are you've sat on a Martin-Baker ejection seat!

I have to say, honestly, that out of all the equipment that goes into a military jet, this is probably the piece of equipment that scares the hell out of me the most!
NOT Martin-Baker, per se, but ANY ejection seat. Strapping onto an armed rocket does not exactly thrill me.
It seems like such a complicated piece of safety equipment...
I was looking at the Wikipedia entry for this and, WOW(!!!), was this seat used in so many different planes, many of which are still flying today. If your plane isn't flying with a Martin-Baker seat, it's most likely equipped with a UTC ACES ejection seat.
The split for US tactical ejection seat buys seems to be M-B for the USN, ACES for the USAF. Honestly, I don't know why that it but it does appear that the air arms favor different manufacturers just like they (USED to) buy airframes from different manufacturers depending on specialities -- ie, Grumman, Vought, or McDonnell Douglas for naval planes, all other manufacturers (upward of 6-8 at one time) for land-based.

[paulyflyer]

So interesting. I never knew there was so much to an ejector seat.

[GRHDA]

And still flying the glorious meteor. If it's not broken why fix it. My type of company. Well done to everyone involved,

[RossoOz]

Typical aircrew, thinks they know the functions and operation of the seat but actually doesn't. This type of bloke is what we use to call self loading freight