BANG! And the passenger was gone! - Aircraft of World War II

BikerBabe · 11-01-2009, 11:58 PM

Original article found here:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article174661.ece'

Joyrider accidentally ejects from SAAF aerobatic aircraft

A South African Air Force Silver Falcons aircraft like the one involved in the ejection incident.
Image ©Times Live.

The civilian passenger was expecting the ride of a lifetime when he strapped himself into the back seat of a South African Air Force Silver Falcons aircraft.

But after the aircraft took off, he got more than he bargained for - way more.
Although confirmed details are thin, it is probable that during an aerobatic manoeuvre, the passenger tried to steady himself by grabbing the black and yellow striped handle between his legs.
And that's when the ride really began.

The ejection sequence started with the firing of the three cartridges in the Martin Baker-built seat.
The seat lifted about 45cm off the floor and this activated the two rockets.
Passenger and seat smashed through the Perspex canopy of the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II and, pulling about 20G, was 100ft out of the aircraft in two seconds flat.

The bewildered - and probably terrified - former occupant, whose identity has not been revealed, would have found himself floating in the crisp afternoon air of the Western Cape's Langebaanweg, probably watching as his equally stunned pilot, Captain Gerhard Lourens, circled to make sure his erstwhile passenger was okay.

In confirming Wednesday's incident, the SAAF said a board of inquiry had been established.
"Much of the information has yet to be tested, but it is confirmed that a civilian passenger unintentionally ejected from a Silver Falcons Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra during a general flying sortie out of Langebaanweg Air Force Base this week.

"The passenger was recovered (by helicopter) unharmed, and returned to Langebaanweg.
The aircraft landed safely."

The spokesman said the flight had been cleared and all procedures adhered to "prior to the passenger boarding the aircraft", making it unlikely charges would follow.

A retired SAAF instructor pilot said yesterday the passenger could consider himself extremely lucky to have survived the ejection with barely a scratch.
"We train for this and if you don't get it right, and are not in the correct ejection posture, you can sustain severe spinal cord injuries or even worse."
He said it was not possible that the seat fired of its own accord. There were too many safety features built into the system.

"All it takes is for the firing handle (the rubbery black and yellow striped loop) to be pulled up about 2.5cm and you're on your way out."
He said the ejection would have been dramatic. "You get one almighty kick under the backside and then you're gone.
"The seat separates from the pilot automatically and the chute opens. This is in case the pilot is incapacitated during the ejection."

He added that the passenger would have received a thorough briefing on the ejection sequence and warned that the "loop" between his legs was not to be touched unless the pilot called "eject, eject, eject" during the flight.
Such a briefing is done routinely, even when two qualified pilots are involved in the flight.
It is likely the rear cockpit was extensively damaged by the firing of the cartridges and rockets during the ejection.

The Silver Falcons are the SAAF's aerobatic team that perform precision formation and aerobatics displays at airshows around the country. The five pilots are all serving instructors at Central Flying School, Langebaanweg.

As one observer put it: "What a trip. That guy took off in an Astra, came down in a parachute, and landed back at base in a helicopter. Not bad for a for a single flip."

---------------------
Now that's an "Oops!" if I've ever read about one!

Njaco · 11-02-2009, 12:05 AM

OMG!!! Thats funny and frigtening at the same time!

GrauGeist · 11-02-2009, 01:06 AM

Dang...talk about fool's-luck...

This is a clear example of the "When riding along as a JAFO, do not touch anything!" rule...

Wayne Little · 11-02-2009, 07:16 AM

lucky b@stard thats for sure!

B-17engineer · 11-02-2009, 07:20 AM

"Whats this button do?"

"No No No NO!!!!!!!!"

Baaaaaaaaaaaang

"Oh sh** , I told her not to..."

That's too funny! Good thing she wasn't injured or it wouldn't have been so funny.

RabidAlien · 11-02-2009, 08:29 AM

Dang. Heckuva way to get into the Caterpillar Club!

BikerBabe · 11-02-2009, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RabidAlien

Dang. Heckuva way to get into the Caterpillar Club!

Well my guess is that the unfortunate person in question here won't get a pin from the club, as the plane wasn't disabled in any way.

Henk · 11-02-2009, 10:48 AM

Oh my word. I wonder who this passenger was. Good read thanks mate.

Gnomey · 11-02-2009, 01:50 PM

I think it is hilarious, scary but still hilarious.

Messy1 · 11-02-2009, 03:21 PM

Wow! Got more of a ride than he bargained for!

gumbyk · 11-02-2009, 04:44 PM

D'OH!!!!

I hate it when that happens!!

Butters · 11-02-2009, 04:56 PM

Wait 'til the the poor, dumb bast*rd gets the bill...

JL

RabidAlien · 11-02-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butters

Wait 'til the the poor, dumb bast*rd gets the bill...

JL

...and the one from the dry-cleaners, for his pants....

wheelsup_cavu · 11-02-2009, 09:20 PM

What a ride...

Wheels

Aaron Brooks Wolters · 11-02-2009, 09:42 PM

The first thing I told Terry when I climbed into his T-34 was, " I AIN'T TOUCHING NOTHING!" and his reply was , "Thank you." It does seem like they would have told him what to stay clear of in the cockpit before they took off though doesn't it?

11-01-2009, 11:58 PM	#1
BikerBabe Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Denmark. Posts: 964	BANG! And the passenger was gone! Original article found here: http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article174661.ece' Joyrider accidentally ejects from SAAF aerobatic aircraft A South African Air Force Silver Falcons aircraft like the one involved in the ejection incident. Image ©Times Live. The civilian passenger was expecting the ride of a lifetime when he strapped himself into the back seat of a South African Air Force Silver Falcons aircraft. But after the aircraft took off, he got more than he bargained for - way more. Although confirmed details are thin, it is probable that during an aerobatic manoeuvre, the passenger tried to steady himself by grabbing the black and yellow striped handle between his legs. And that's when the ride really began. The ejection sequence started with the firing of the three cartridges in the Martin Baker-built seat. The seat lifted about 45cm off the floor and this activated the two rockets. Passenger and seat smashed through the Perspex canopy of the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II and, pulling about 20G, was 100ft out of the aircraft in two seconds flat. The bewildered - and probably terrified - former occupant, whose identity has not been revealed, would have found himself floating in the crisp afternoon air of the Western Cape's Langebaanweg, probably watching as his equally stunned pilot, Captain Gerhard Lourens, circled to make sure his erstwhile passenger was okay. In confirming Wednesday's incident, the SAAF said a board of inquiry had been established. "Much of the information has yet to be tested, but it is confirmed that a civilian passenger unintentionally ejected from a Silver Falcons Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra during a general flying sortie out of Langebaanweg Air Force Base this week. "The passenger was recovered (by helicopter) unharmed, and returned to Langebaanweg. The aircraft landed safely." The spokesman said the flight had been cleared and all procedures adhered to "prior to the passenger boarding the aircraft", making it unlikely charges would follow. A retired SAAF instructor pilot said yesterday the passenger could consider himself extremely lucky to have survived the ejection with barely a scratch. "We train for this and if you don't get it right, and are not in the correct ejection posture, you can sustain severe spinal cord injuries or even worse." He said it was not possible that the seat fired of its own accord. There were too many safety features built into the system. "All it takes is for the firing handle (the rubbery black and yellow striped loop) to be pulled up about 2.5cm and you're on your way out." He said the ejection would have been dramatic. "You get one almighty kick under the backside and then you're gone. "The seat separates from the pilot automatically and the chute opens. This is in case the pilot is incapacitated during the ejection." He added that the passenger would have received a thorough briefing on the ejection sequence and warned that the "loop" between his legs was not to be touched unless the pilot called "eject, eject, eject" during the flight. Such a briefing is done routinely, even when two qualified pilots are involved in the flight. It is likely the rear cockpit was extensively damaged by the firing of the cartridges and rockets during the ejection. The Silver Falcons are the SAAF's aerobatic team that perform precision formation and aerobatics displays at airshows around the country. The five pilots are all serving instructors at Central Flying School, Langebaanweg. As one observer put it: "What a trip. That guy took off in an Astra, came down in a parachute, and landed back at base in a helicopter. Not bad for a for a single flip." --------------------- Now that's an "Oops!" if I've ever read about one! __________________ Kein Anderer als ein Jäger spürt - Den Kampf und Sieg so konzentriert, Das macht uns glücklich, stolz und froh - Der Jägerei ein Horrido! "

11-02-2009, 12:05 AM	#2
Njaco The Pop-Tart Whisperer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey, United States Posts: 10,236	OMG!!! Thats funny and frigtening at the same time! __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's English, thank a soldier!" http://www.njcacoa.org/

11-02-2009, 01:06 AM	#3
GrauGeist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Redding, California Posts: 3,347	Dang...talk about fool's-luck... This is a clear example of the "When riding along as a JAFO, do not touch anything!" rule... __________________ "Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future." - Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome > I Support Doug Gillis <

11-02-2009, 07:16 AM	#4
Wayne Little Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Adelaide Sth. Aust. Posts: 12,511	lucky b@stard thats for sure! __________________

11-02-2009, 07:20 AM	#5
B-17engineer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,684	"Whats this button do?" "No No No NO!!!!!!!!" Baaaaaaaaaaaang "Oh sh** , I told her not to..." That's too funny! Good thing she wasn't injured or it wouldn't have been so funny. __________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe36UMRkRbk

11-02-2009, 08:29 AM	#6
RabidAlien Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hurst, Texas Posts: 2,825	Dang. Heckuva way to get into the Caterpillar Club! __________________ Pillage, then burn. Argue not with dragons, for thou art crunchy and go well on toast.

11-02-2009, 10:48 AM	#8
Henk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: George - South Africa Posts: 2,780	Oh my word. I wonder who this passenger was. Good read thanks mate. __________________ The ultimate revolution in aircraft designs during WW2

11-02-2009, 01:50 PM	#9
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,224	I think it is hilarious, scary but still hilarious. __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

11-02-2009, 03:21 PM	#10
Messy1 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ankeny, Iowa Posts: 1,411	Wow! Got more of a ride than he bargained for! __________________ Bryon O P-61 Black Widow-Mistress of the Night! "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." George S. Patton "Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." "Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away."

11-02-2009, 04:44 PM	#11
gumbyk Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Auckland Posts: 157	D'OH!!!! I hate it when that happens!!

11-02-2009, 04:56 PM	#12
Butters Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Shore of Nova Scotia Posts: 304	Wait 'til the the poor, dumb bast*rd gets the bill... JL

11-02-2009, 09:20 PM	#14
wheelsup_cavu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Corona, California Posts: 1,534	What a ride... Wheels __________________ Cheers Wheelsup_cavu Wheels's Photos - Time lapse build of an F/A-18 Super Hornet - Lock N' Load

11-02-2009, 09:42 PM	#15
Aaron Brooks Wolters Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Abingdon, VA. Posts: 2,290	The first thing I told Terry when I climbed into his T-34 was, " I AIN'T TOUCHING NOTHING!" and his reply was , "Thank you." It does seem like they would have told him what to stay clear of in the cockpit before they took off though doesn't it? __________________

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