Article Posted on : - Apr 08, 2011

F35 seat ejection test. A BAE photo

SAMLESBURY, UK (BNS): A defence industry team led by British major BAE Systems has successfully completed final tests on the pilot ejection system for all variants of the F-35 Lightening II fighter aircraft.

The escape system, used in emergency situations, has been certified safe for flight after a series of rigorous tests. More than 30 ejection seat tests have been completed in the UK, France and the USA.

In the last test that took place at Martin Baker Aircraft Company’s facility at Chalgrove Airfield in Oxfordshire, the safety system was tested to its limit.

A full scale front section of the aircraft, complete with ejection seat and mannequin, was launched at speeds in excess of 600 mph (268.22 m/s) down a test track, BAE said.

Witnessing the final test, BAE Systems’ Test Manager Rick Whittaker said, “Ejecting from an aircraft like F-35 typically takes no more than three seconds from the time the ejection handle is pulled to the pilot being on a parachute. You can imagine how quickly everything happens."

"Incredibly, during the tests up to 900,000 measurements were recorded every second and I am pleased to say the systems performed really well,” the official said.

Chris Garside, BAE’s Chief Engineer on the F-35 programme, added: “Achieving this certification marks the culmination of several years’ hard work across an integrated team and across a range of functions. It’s a major achievement. The system has consistently performed as expected through a progressive series of tests. The escape system standard that underwent the final tests is now being implemented into the production aircraft.”

The ejection system will now be fitted on over 3,000 of the F-35 combat aircraft to be deployed worldwide.

The industrial team that conducted tests on the escape system included BAE Systems, prime sub contractor for the Lockheed Martin-led F-35 programme, and the Martin Baker Aircraft Company who are responsible for producing the US16E ejection seat, a derivative of the highly successful Mk 16 family of seats.

The Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company will provide the transparency removal system which cuts the canopy for the seat to exit and Honeywell will deliver vital Life Support systems for the pilot.