XBradTC

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XBradTC

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The Martin-Baker GRU-7 Ejection Seat

By the mid 1960s, ejection seats had become quite sophisticated systems. The GRU-7 seat from Martin-Baker was a Zero/Zero system. That is, if you were sitting still on the ground, and ejected, the seat would fire you to a sufficient height for a successful parachute deployment. It would also automatically separate you from the seat,…

By the mid 1960s, ejection seats had become quite sophisticated systems. The GRU-7 seat from Martin-Baker was a Zero/Zero system. That is, if you were sitting still on the ground, and ejected, the seat would fire you to a sufficient height for a successful parachute deployment. It would also automatically separate you from the seat, and deploy the parachute. Further, it carried an emergency oxygen supply in the seat pan in case of a high altitude ejection. The seat pan also contained a one man life raft in case of overwater ejection. 

Friend of the Blog Rick actually took a GRU-7 for a test drive in the real world. 

 

 

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Responses to “The Martin-Baker GRU-7 Ejection Seat”

  1. Angus Mcthag

    I didn’t eject, but I got to ride in a GRU-7(A) thanks to my dear-departed uncle.

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  2. Rick Morgan

    The EA-6B ejection PLAT tape at the start is the one I was involved with- VAQ-139 161351 off Connie, October 1984.

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  3. Captain Ned

    What happens when the same thing occurs off the bow cats? Can’t be good, I’d think.

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  4. CTII Raven

    Bad cat shot Rick?

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  5. Xbradtc

    Arresting gear engine was not properly set.

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  6. Captain Ned

    Ah, so got the trap and chopped throttle, only to run out of deck.

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  7. Rick Morgan

    We hit the 3-wire whose A/G engine was turned off due to multiple errors below deck. The wire provided such un-even tension that the tailhook was sheared off. The pilot was at MRT but we’d slowed to about 90kts before going off the angle. All three ECMOs were up for flight the next day; the pilot hit the water in his ejection seat and was nearly killed. It was his second ejection in 18 months, neither his fault. Although pretty badly messed up he recovered remarkably well and lives in Albuquerque now.

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  8. AFCM

    A full ride is better than a parial ride. https://theaviationist.com/2014/08/06/ka-6d-partial-ejection/
    Somebody left the starwheel on.

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