On the V-Bombers and escape systems. All were initially designed with the idea that the flight crew would ride in an ejecting "pod" but this was found to be too heavy AFTER the designs were finalized. Ejection seats for the pilot and co-pilot would fit and clear the airframe but it was found that adding extra ejectors was both to heavy and could not be placed to clear the airframe in most cases anyway.
The idea is that the pilot/co-pilot would try and hold the aircraft in a fashion that allowed the rest of the crew to bailout and then use their ejection seats to clear the aircraft themselves in "a timely manner" before it became a fireball. Theory meeting practice in reality of course...
To quote a pilot of a Vulcan I once talked to "At least the boffin's didn't get the same idea as you folks... Downward ejecting seats and low altitude flight now THERE's a combination I'd not like selling to the boys in the back end!"
I made the mistake of bringing up the movie "Thunderball" btw, and had them on the floor for a good five minutes, "Who'd want to have a 40ft long rubber seal between you and the great beyond all rigged with explosive to blow yer top when it bloody well felt like it?"
I did not bring up the Martin Seamaster which pretty much DID blow its top to allow full crew upward ejection...
Riain wrote:
How do these Mirages fare with a pair of heavy Blue Streaks instead of the standard light load of 2 AIM9B or 1 R530?
To which DaveB replied:
A pair of Blue Streaks? Blimey, that's a helluva Mirage!
What? The first stage is used for takeoff assist, (and to ensure the pilot, base commander and half the nation are awake and alert) while the second stage is a multipurpose weapon capable of taking out an attacking fighter, bomber, rogue nation, wander moon, wingman, or even the city where that guy who ogled your girlfriend happens to live...
Randy