F-35A question

[Pappy]

G'day people,

 

I have an ejection seat question that i hope someone in here can answer, apologies if it has been done to death already. I know that there was some sort of issue with the F-35 ejection seat vis weight restrictions  and the original parachute configuration. Looking at the current online pics, it seems that the parachute headbox has changed shape at some point. 

 

I have the 1/48 Meng F-35A kit and the kit's seat headbox has a rectangular shape in side profile, however most of the current pics I have seen seem to indicate a more triangular side profile sitting above what I assume is the emergency oxy bottle?

Is the triangular shaped headbox a modification to overcome the earlier issue or is this a sub variant of the seat that is only particular to some F-35 versions?

The MB website indicates that the seat is common to the F-35A/B/C

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

[hairystick]

The problem came about from quite light female pilots, in addition to the weight of the million dollar hat that all pilots wear in this jet. The triangular headbox seems to be the normal shape now.

 

Keep an eye on the MB website as well.

http://martin-baker.com/products/mk16-ejection-seat-f-35/

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2017 by hairystick

[LotusArenco]

Perfect shot here showing the shape of the current headbox.

http://imgaram.com/media/BbATRp6Floc

http://www.imgrum.org/media/1639415420028324646_1654843887

 

Mart

[Pappy]

G'day Mart and HS,

 

Thanks for the quick reply fellas. I had already visited the MB website and concur that the MB.16E seems to be a common fit across the three versions so the triangular headbox is the now common fit. Could either of you point me in a direction twoards further reading about the lightweight aircrew issue for my own education?

 

Ejection seats have to operate under very dire circumstances so I expect there are weight limits (both max and min) as well as biometric limits e.g seated height, hip to floor measurements etc and that ejection seats are designed to accommodate the median range of values, so deffo not one size fits all!

 

Thanks for the great link Mart, best view I have seen of the current config,

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

[LotusArenco]

12 hours ago, Pappy said:

further reading about the lightweight aircrew issue

From the horse’s mouth: MB press release from last year.

http://martin-baker.com/2016/07/08/progress-made-martin-baker-seat-testing/

 

Also: "It’s unclear whether the blame for the issues stems from the helmet, the ejection seat or some combination of the two factors, and JPO officials refused to point fingers at any one product."

From here: https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/afa-air-space/2016/09/19/f-35-program-office-hopeful-to-move-out-on-ejection-seat-retrofit-plan-this-fall/

 

Seeing as MB has made over 300 of Mk16E seats, I’d guess that the problem has been resolved.

http://martin-baker.com/2017/08/07/300th-us16e-ejection-seat-f-35/

 

Mart

[Pappy]

18 hours ago, LotusArenco said:

From the horse’s mouth: MB press release from last year.

http://martin-baker.com/2016/07/08/progress-made-martin-baker-seat-testing/

 

Also: "It’s unclear whether the blame for the issues stems from the helmet, the ejection seat or some combination of the two factors, and JPO officials refused to point fingers at any one product."

From here: https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/afa-air-space/2016/09/19/f-35-program-office-hopeful-to-move-out-on-ejection-seat-retrofit-plan-this-fall/

 

Seeing as MB has made over 300 of Mk16E seats, I’d guess that the problem has been resolved.

http://martin-baker.com/2017/08/07/300th-us16e-ejection-seat-f-35/

 

Mart

Thanks mart, great info and thanks for the quick reply, now I must go off and grab a post turkey induced nap,

 

cheers,

 

Pappy