Overview
In June 2005 Martin-Baker was selected to upgrade the escape system in the supersonic T-38 Talon advanced trainers of the US Air Force, Air Education and Training Command (AETC). This major project will improve pilot safety, increase accommodation and guarantee ejection seat logistic and technical support to ensure that the Talon remains one of the best advanced training aircraft in the World. The US16T seat is based closely upon the US16LN that Martin-Baker delivered to NASA for their T-38 Talon fleet used for astronaut training. The seat offers state of the art – life saving performance, Interface with existing canopy jettison system, Survival kit contents matched to operator’s requirements and to suit aircraft role, maximum possible pilot size and weight range accommodation (without airframe changes). The seat installation is simple and provides reduced life cycle costs.
Specifications
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Specifications
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US16T-1 T38
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Operating ceiling
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50 000 ft (15,250 m)
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Minimum height/speed
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Zero/zero in near level attitude
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Crew boarding mass range
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57.1 to 123.8 kg
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Crew size range
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JPATS multi-variate body size cases 1 to 6
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Maximum Speed for ejection
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600 KIAS
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Parachute type
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GQ Type 5000
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Parachute deployment
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Cartridge initiated
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Drogue parachute
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Yes
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Drogue deployment
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Cartridge initiated, tilt and deploy
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Harness type
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Combined
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Ejection seat operation type
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Ejection guns and underseat rocket motor
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Ejection gun
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Twin
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Ejection initiation
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Handle on seat pan initiates gas operated seat
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firing system
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Automatic back-up unit
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Yes
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Electronic sequencer
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No
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Barostatic time-release unit
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Yes + g-restrictor, cartridge initiated
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Timers
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Time delay cartridges
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Seat adjustment
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Up/down actuator operated 115 Vac
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fore/aft manual backrest adjustment
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Arm restraints
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No
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Leg restraints
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Yes, four garters
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Oxygen supply
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Bottled emergency oxygen
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Seat survival kit (SSK)
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Yes + automatic deployment and liferaft inflation
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Aircrew services
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Connection to main oxygen supply, mic/tel
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Command ejection
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Yes
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Canopy jettison
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Yes
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Miniature detonating cord
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No
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Interseat sequencing system
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Yes, via mode selector
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Seat firing handle pulled causing seat initiation cartridge to fire
Command firing initiated
Harness retraction unit operated
Canopy jettison initiated
Primary cartridge fires, bottom latches engage, top latches disengage seat rises up rails
Aircraft services disconnected
Leg restraint lines draw back and restrain aircrew’s legs
Secondary cartridges fire as seat rises
Multi-purpose initiators fire
Underseat rocket motor fires
Leg restraint lines become taut and rivets shear, freeing lines from floor brackets
Emergency oxygen supplied to aircrew
Barostatic time-release unit (BTRU) mechanism set to operate when altitude and g-load conditions are satisfactory
Drogue and drogue deployment unit turn to operating position
Automatic backup unit (ABU) set to operate if necessary
Drogue deployed, stabilises and decreases velocity of seat
Barostatic time release unit monitors the altitude and g-load conditions
Above pre-determined altitude -
- Seat falls, stabilsed by drogue
- Emergency oxygen supply continues
Below pre-determined altitude –
- BTRU mechanism operates, cartridge fires (If BTRU fails ABU operates. Manual deployment also available by pulling manual override handle)
- Cartridge of headbox deployment unit fires
- Parachute container (headbox) deploys
- Drogue bridle released
Upper and lower harness to seat locks and leg restraint lines released
Parachute container separates from main parachute and is pulled clear by auxiliary parachute
Sticker straps momentarily hold aircrew in seat
Main parachute develops, lifts aircrew and survival pack from seat and pulls sticker clips from clips causing aircrew and seat to diverge
Aircrew and survival pack (attached to aircrew) separate from seat
Pulling survival pack from seat causes automatic deployment unit (ADU) cartridge to fire
Automatic deployment unit operates, lowers survival pack on drop line below aircrew
Personal locator beacon operates, liferaft automatically inflates
Normal parachute descent follows
Underwater automatic release system automatically releases harness on immersion
Variants
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Country
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Aircraft
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Seat Designation
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USA
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T-38
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US16LN
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