Minimizing the Sequenced Delay Time for Escape From High-Speed Low-Level Flight Profiles

The time delay that occurs between the actuation of an escape system and the actual initiation of the ejection catapult acceleration to separate the crew from an aircraft is one of the critical factors in the design of escape systems for high-speed low-level (HSLL) flight conditions. This delay may...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Raddin, James H, Specker, Lawrence J, Brinkley, James W
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ACCELERATION
AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION
AIRCRAFT
CATAPULTS
DELAY
EJECTION
ESCAPE SYSTEMS
Escape, Rescue and Survival
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLIGHT
FLIGHT PATHS
HIGH VELOCITY
HUMAN BODY
LOW ALTITUDE
LOW LEVEL
Military Aircraft Operations
PROFILES
RISK
SEQUENCES
TIME
TIME INTERVALS
WOUNDS AND INJURIES
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Summary:The time delay that occurs between the actuation of an escape system and the actual initiation of the ejection catapult acceleration to separate the crew from an aircraft is one of the critical factors in the design of escape systems for high-speed low-level (HSLL) flight conditions. This delay may preclude what could otherwise be a successful escape from certain HSLL profiles. The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of current operational delay times and describe techniques to minimize the delays. Operational through-the-canopy ejection data are presented to assess the risk of injury incurred in eliminating the delay time altogether. Experimental data from tests with human volunteers are presented to demonstrate the potential for significantly reducing the time required for upper torso retraction. Finally, the implications of available aeromedical evidence are evaluated in the definition of the most promising approaches to minimize the time required for a HSLL escape sequence.