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Elite Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 666 Status: Offline

A few years ago a company Florida was working on an ejection seat for the F-22 that would wrap around the pilot saving his arms and legs from danger when ejecting at high speeds. It was designed much like the K-36 system but would surround his body in a restraint system. This was very early in the 90's and now I can't find the company listing anymore.
What happened to make the change back to a modified ACES, and will this seat protect the pilot above M1?

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Regular User Joined: May 21, 2005 Posts: 21

The F-22 seat has both arm and leg restraints, which previous versions of the ACES II did not.

Regards,
Murph

Elite Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 666 Status: Offline

I have not found a reference for leg restraint.
This web site talks about arm only. http://www.ejectionsite.com/f22acesii.htm
Where did you get the information on the leg restraint?

The F-22 does use a passive leg restraint system. The other users of the ACES II will get the same style of leg restraint as well (funds dependent). My reference? Me as an A-10/F-16/F-22 egress instructor.

Elite Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 666 Status: Offline

Have you seen the system or is it just in planning stages?

Have I seen the system? In the F-22 or other airplanes? The F-22 has had it from the begining. The F-16 has been fit tested and I belive sled tested already(its very simple and reliable). I have chatted with the engineers on the F-16 and it will hinge on funds, they want it.

Btw......nothing against Kevin's web site, but in his description of the F-22 version he states that the seat didnt have all its covers and panels etc. In other words the picture doesnt do it justice. I do have some good pics from tech data and the like if you want to see the F-22 system.

disregard

Regular User Joined: May 21, 2005 Posts: 21

ACMIguy wrote:

I have not found a reference for leg restraint.
This web site talks about arm only. http://www.ejectionsite.com/f22acesii.htm
Where did you get the information on the leg restraint?

From sitting in a Raptor cockpit.

Regards,
Murph

Elite Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 666 Status: Offline

I found a site that talks about it
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-78413230.html

Too bad they haven't included it on all seats yet, think of how many pilots would be around walking and talking today if had been deployed.

I cant load the pic I want to use, so look at this one. The leg restraints are the gray rope assys in the foot well. They are held in place with velcro tabs.

Elite Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 666 Status: Offline

I see them
Thanks

Newbie Joined: Feb 13, 2008 Posts: 1 Status: Offline

ACMIguy wrote:

A few years ago a company Florida was working on an ejection seat for the F-22 that would wrap around the pilot saving his arms and legs from danger when ejecting at high speeds. It was designed much like the K-36 system but would surround his body in a restraint system. This was very early in the 90's and now I can't find the company listing anymore.
What happened to make the change back to a modified ACES, and will this seat protect the pilot above M1?

McDonnell Douglas built the ACES II then was taken over by Boeing. Boeing sold the ACES II line to Goodrich which now owns all US ejection seat lines (ACES, STENCIL, UPCO, Weber) as well as being the US POC for the Zvesda K-36D seat.

The F-22 ACES II is qualified to 600 KEAS which is essentially M1. Ejection at higher airspeeds equates to an increase the risk of injury.

Elite Joined: Jul 11, 2007 Posts: 666 Status: Offline

cockpit73 wrote:

ACMIguy wrote:

A few years ago a company Florida was working on an ejection seat for the F-22 that would wrap around the pilot saving his arms and legs from danger when ejecting at high speeds. It was designed much like the K-36 system but would surround his body in a restraint system. This was very early in the 90's and now I can't find the company listing anymore.
What happened to make the change back to a modified ACES, and will this seat protect the pilot above M1?

McDonnell Douglas built the ACES II then was taken over by Boeing. Boeing sold the ACES II line to Goodrich which now owns all US ejection seat lines (ACES, STENCIL, UPCO, Weber) as well as being the US POC for the Zvesda K-36D seat.

The F-22 ACES II is qualified to 600 KEAS which is essentially M1. Ejection at higher airspeeds equates to an increase the risk of injury.

Any idea of what the highest speed the K-36 will keep the pilot safe?
Thanks for the listing of companies, I heard about it from some egress guys and had thoughts of applying for job with them at one time.

F-16.net Editor Joined: Sep 23, 2003 Posts: 2832

This is good info. An F-15 test pilot told me about this stuff about a year ago. Good thing for the F-22 and a good thing for all fast movers.

Is the Navy funding something like this for their Hornet community?

Ahh, there's nothing new in aviation! The F-105 had leg restraints on its ejection seat way back in the 1960s. The pilot would wear straps around his calves and thread the restraints through them while strapping in. The restraints were riveted to the cockpit floor and as the seat went up the rails they'd rein in his legs before the rivets sheared off. Upon seat/man separation the restraints would drop out of the leg straps and fall to the ground.

They got used a lot in Viet Nam...

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