When Reagan revived the B-1B, because its mission went from high altitude supersonic dash to low altitude penetration, it was deemed that ejection seats would be cheaper and safer at low altitude subsonic speeds.
Posted on 06/08/2018 10:28:13 AM PDT by DFG
The U.S. Air Force’s entire B-1 bomber fleet was ordered to stand down Thursday because of an issue with ejection seat components, the Air Force Global Strike Command said.
The announcement came more than a month after a B-1B Lancer made an emergency landing at Midland International Air & Space Port in Texas. Officials investigating the incident determined that there was an issue with ejection seat components and ordered the stand down.
“The [Safety Investigation Board’s] purpose is to prevent future mishaps or losses and is comprised of experts who investigate the incident and recommend corrective actions. The safety of Airmen is the command's top priority,” U.S. Air Force Maj. William A. Russell said Friday. “The Air Force takes safety incidents seriously and works diligently to identify and correct potential causes.”
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Hate seeing a problem, but once found, they have to be properly fixed. Went to school with a good friend whose father was lost during a test flight of the B-1.
Pardon my ignorance, but does the B1 have an ejection capsule as opposed to ejection seats?
Either way, one of my favorites. Been up and close at SJAFB Wings over Wayne. Very impressive aircraft. It way bigger than it looks in any photo.
I thought the Bone had a crew escape capsule.
The B1 originally had a cockpit that would separate upon command. The rationale was that at supersonic speed, ejection in a Martin-Baker Mk.10 seat would kill its occupant. The Russians invented a supersonic capable ejection seat by installing a shield in front of the pilot. The Aces II seats of the B1-B are used in numerous aircraft and are reliable with less injury than the MB.
F-111, B-70 tried ejection modules. They worked poorly. Brit’s tried them as well.
A few other methods and arrangements were tried early on - Few were really successful. F105, B52 started with downward-shooting ejection seats. (B52 lower level seats still use them.) U-2 tried manual ejection.
Today’s 0-0 ejection seats saved many lives during take-off and landing incidents.
Nope, 4 ACES II ejection seats. The only operational US jet that had an escape capsule was variants of the F-111.
An aside: The B-58 had encapsulated ejection seats and the prototype B-70 also did.
When Reagan revived the B-1B, because its mission went from high altitude supersonic dash to low altitude penetration, it was deemed that ejection seats would be cheaper and safer at low altitude subsonic speeds.
Its pretty awesome to see Midland International air and SPACE port written down
First airport i ever flew into many many uears ago and eould nver had guessed i would see that
I remember a while back (80’s?) a B-1 was on a low-level with, with an instructor standing up in the cockpit, using an interphone cord for comm — they took some birds and the hydraulics were badly damaged from the impact. They were able to zoom the airplane and eject —- but the instructor rode it in since he had no ejection seat. After that uproar nobody rode along without being strapped in (an ejection seat).
Imagine how his family felt about that.
How did they determine that there was a problem? Did anyone actually eject? Even unsuccessfully?
The article does not tell us much of anything.
I do not understand grounding the entire B1 force force? They have been flying it this way for years and no issues until now.
How about upgrade each B1 one at a time until the entire fleet is complete?
Unless its an easy fix, and they can do the entire fleet in a week?
"X-ray Tango Zulu One Niner, roger tower, cleared for takeoff."
+Su-32,+NATO+Fullback)+fighter+attack+stregic+tactical+bomber+export+NPP+Zvezda+K-36dm+ejection+seats+(2).jpg)
"Da*$it! Did it again."
Didn’t work properly during engine fire emergency?
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