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The ejection seat is going to do its thing regardless of orientation, but if that orientation is pointed at the ground you better hope you have enough altitude.
by dylan604 5mo ago
The ejection seat is going to do its thing regardless of orientation, but if that orientation is pointed at the ground you better hope you have enough altitude. There was one plane where the ejection seats ejected down and away from the plane that was known for low altitude missions. These seats were affectionately known as lawn darts.
- rob74 5mo agoI think that plane is the Lockheed Starfighter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-104_Starfighter#Ejection_seat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_F-104_Starfighter#Eje...). Fortunately they were eventually replaced with upward-firing ejection seats. And the "lawn dart" moniker refers to the airplane itself - probably because of the absurdly short wings, which are also placed pretty far back.
- ErroneousBosh 5mo ago"We need a plane for bombing, straffing, assault and battery, interception, ground support and reconnaissance. Not just a *fair weather fighter*!" RIP Bob Calvert.
- Waterluvian 5mo agoPutting on my Internet Guy hat: isn’t that the A-10?
- ErroneousBosh 5mo agoYes, but that wouldn't come along for another 19 years. G for... G for *Germany*, Herr Minister.
- ahartmetz 5mo agoThe Starfighter was designed as a light and fast high speed high altitude interceptor, but eventually used as a relatively heavy low level fighter-bomber. It's part of the reason why they killed so many pilots.