View Full Version : Need help solving a mystery (to me at least).....
Navy Chief
October 10th, 2016, 12:17
Someone posted this picture on FB, saying it is a ejection seat handle from a A-7 that his dad ejected from, back in 1968, over Da Nang.
Am questioning this, somewhat, as I worked on ESCAPAC seats for many years, and never ever encountered a metallic lower ejection handle.
Any help here? I searched and searched and all I can find are pictures of the rubber handle I recall as being installed on USN A-7s. NC
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=43681&stc=1
and what I remember was:
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=43682&stc=1
joe bob
October 10th, 2016, 15:36
This site says early handles were metal. Depending on how you read it, it could be referring to the seat or the seat in the A-4.
I can't link directly to the page but here is part of the quote
"From the Escapac I seat on the Escapac line went through several variations. The earliest seats had the face curtain assembly attached atop the headrest. The Escapac IA-1 version (photo right) was used in the A-4E Skyhawk. The seat firing handle is also noteworthy as it is a metal unit as opposed to the later rubber handle."
I wonder if the person could be mistaken on the type of aircraft. An A-4 crashing at Da Nang in 69 would be much more likely than a Navy A-7
http://www.ejectionsite.com/
(http://www.ejectionsite.com/)
Navy Chief
October 10th, 2016, 16:17
This site says early handles were metal. Depending on how you read it, it could be referring to the seat or the seat in the A-4.
I can't link directly to the page but here is part of the quote
"From the Escapac I seat on the Escapac line went through several variations. The earliest seats had the face curtain assembly attached atop the headrest. The Escapac IA-1 version (photo right) was used in the A-4E Skyhawk. The seat firing handle is also noteworthy as it is a metal unit as opposed to the later rubber handle."
I wonder if the person could be mistaken on the type of aircraft. An A-4 crashing at Da Nang in 69 would be much more likely than a Navy A-7
http://www.ejectionsite.com/
(http://www.ejectionsite.com/)
Don't know why I didn't think of that site. I actually have two anecdotes on that site. I will email Kevin, the guy who created it. Thanks, NC
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