The original AD seat and the one incorporating the extraction system were similar in appearance but very different in detail. The most obvious indication of the Stanley seat is the presence of a tube (the rocket) added to the right side of the existing canopy actuation mechanism that was usually concealed under a canvas cover (I'm not sure why but I suspected that it was prone to leaking).
The armor plate behind the pilot's headrest appears to have been unchanged but the head rest was now mounted to the seat structure, which included two U-shaped channels on each side of the seat.
An extraction initiation handle was located at the front side of the seat cushion.
The headrest of the original seat was narrower, with its forward surface bowed outward vertically, and mounted to the armor plate. The seat consisted of a back and a bucket. (Note that the canopy actuation mechanism is not shown in the following illustration and that there would almost always be cushions/parachute in the seat.)
This is the comparable illustration for the Yankee seat. (Note that the control column is not shown.)
Also used with success in the T-28 both in Vietnam and Thailand/Loas.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Douglas go with this seat? Instead of say the Escapac seat.
ReplyDeleteThe extraction system was lighter and less complicated than an ejection seat. It required less modification to an existing cockpit (some A-1 conversions were done at a Navy depot in the Philippines during the carrier's deployment). It allowed for a smaller longitudinal opening through which to extract the pilot. It was far less likely to cause a back injury (the pilot was pulled out of the cockpit by his harness rather than being pushed out by the seat and the initial acceleration was lower). So why didn't it replace ejection seats completely? Because without adding additional features like the parachute-mounted headrest, at higher speeds then the Skyraider was capable of, an extraction would result in extreme flailing of, and injuries to, the arms and legs of the person being extracted.
DeleteOk thanks. Was just curious.
DeleteI got one of those Clear Prop 1/48 Skyshark and I want to do a modern one. A what if they had gone into service, and use some Skyraider parts including the Eduard seat.
Forgot to add. I know it's a what if. So I could do whatever to it. But am just trying to stay along the lines of WWDD. (What Would Douglas Do)
DeleteCheers
An interesting question. The production A2D ejection seat was very similar to the Douglas-furnished original F4D seat that the Navy replaced with a Martin-Baker seat. They didn't do that with the A4D because its cockpit was apparently too small for a Martin-Baker. That was not the case with the A2D. It is therefore likely that the original A2D seat would have eventually been replaced by a succession of Martin-Baker seats and not an extraction seat.
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