Another Red Arrows Incident..

[Sternjaeger II]

Originally Posted by seaeye

I used to work on the Mk.12 version of these seats, fitted to Harriers.

With all the safety pins in place, the seat is safe and cannot under any circumstances be ejected from the aircraft. So some of the pins, or all of them must have been removed. Also, I was told during my training that if the canopy MDC failed to initiate, the seat would push through the canopy regardless. The idea being, it's better to risk getting cut up by the canopy rather than simply crashing with the aircraft.

What has been reported (unconfirmed) in the UK is that the seat ejected while taxiing, but the parachute failed to deploy. Based on this infomation only it appears that some or all of the pins were out, and what has happened is a freak occurance. Initiated by the pilot or not, the drogue chute failed to deploy. If the drogue gun safety pin had been inadvertently left fitted, this could have the effect that has been reported.

Of course all this is speculation, but as I have actual experience of maintaining seats like the MK.10 it really made me wonder what might have gone wrong.

Here's a nice bit of info on the seat: Martin Baker - Mk.10

yeah, even if there's an MDC failure, you have spears on top of the seat which are supposed to break through, isn't it?