Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Mino on June 02, 2002, 12:55:42 AM
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..Dornier Do 335 had an ejection seat
477 mph WEP speed, and 4600 fpm climb.... mmmm:)
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/images/lrg0490.jpg
should have posted on aircraft vehicle section, but site won't allow me to delete!
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and it ripped the arms off of pilots trying to eject from it.
seems the ejection handles were attached to the cockpit and the arms remained in the airplane gripping them while the rest of the pilot went out with the seat
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this is what I found...
"German tests of escape systems started as early as 1938. Initial designs used compressed air for propulsion, but this approach was abandoned due to high weight, low performance, and maintenance problems. Their next step was apparently to investigate propellant powered seats. A parachutist by the name of Busse made the first live ejection from a propellant powered seat. Propellant powered seats were operational in German aircraft by 1944.
As an example of the degree of development of escape system propulsion in Germany during World War II, the Dornier DO335 presented both a unique aircraft from an aerodynamic view, as well as from the escape system propulsion point of view. The aircraft having both a tractor and pusher airscrew, as well as dorsal and ventral centerline fins, presented a unique challenge to the aircrew who needed to escape in flight. To that end, this aircraft utilized explosive bolts and other propellant driven devices to jettison the dorsal tail and the pusher airscrew, as well as the ejector seat. It is not known if this system was ever used. Other German aircraft fitted with the propellant driven ejector seats included the ME-163B, ME-262, Heinkel HE-162, HE-219 (with the two seats), and HE-280."
R. F. Sadler, of B. F. Goodrich Aerospace.
I'd like to read about the spontaneous amputations...where'd you hear of it?