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Eject! Eject!
As characteristic of the jet age as the sonic boom, the ejection seat has saved thousands from certain death since German test pilot Schenk became the first to owe his life to such a device in 1942. The story of the ejection seat began as early as 1930 when Flg Off A. M. Dudgeon of No 208 Squadron saw that increasing airspeeds required some form of assisted escape system. The difficulties experienced by aircrew during World War 2 in leaving their aircraft against the airstream or under 'g' conditions in emergencies were the spur to extensive research in Britain, Germany, Sweden and the USA, which eventually led to the familiar warning triangle (indicating that an ejection seat is fitted) appearing on most military jet aircraft.
This book is divided into two parts: in the first, Bryan Philpott outlines the international development and deployment of the ejection seat, from the earliest proposals to the fully automatic seats of today. The second half of the book contains a number of chapters, each of which deals with a particularly significant use of an ejection seat.
The writer vividly describes ejections from a Meteor F8 over North Korea, from the AW52 'flying wing', and from a Harrier GR3 over the Falklands; there is even an underwater ejection.
Illustrated with many rare photographs as well as some unusual drawings, this book will be compulsive reading for anyone with an interest in modern aviation, or the ingenuity with which man can ensure his survival.
(description from front cover flap)
This book is divided into two parts: in the first, Bryan Philpott outlines the international development and deployment of the ejection seat, from the earliest proposals to the fully automatic seats of today. The second half of the book contains a number of chapters, each of which deals with a particularly significant use of an ejection seat.
The writer vividly describes ejections from a Meteor F8 over North Korea, from the AW52 'flying wing', and from a Harrier GR3 over the Falklands; there is even an underwater ejection.
Illustrated with many rare photographs as well as some unusual drawings, this book will be compulsive reading for anyone with an interest in modern aviation, or the ingenuity with which man can ensure his survival.
(description from front cover flap)
160 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 16, 2012
The book covers history, development and functions of seats, and a large portion of the book is devoted to first-hand survival stories. Somewhat obscure, technical, detailed and fascinating read about a critical crew safety device.
December 19, 2012
Very interesting
In the firs half of the book we are told the history of ejection seats (in England, most of all) and in the second half some stories of ejection are told.
unluckily this book was written in 1985, when nothing was known about soviet or russian ejection seats
In the firs half of the book we are told the history of ejection seats (in England, most of all) and in the second half some stories of ejection are told.
unluckily this book was written in 1985, when nothing was known about soviet or russian ejection seats
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews