Navigator dies as ejector seat activates in upside-down jet
A crewman was thrown from an RAF Tornado and killed after his ejector seat activated while the aircraft was flying upside down.
The Tornado was being given a test flight and both crew members were civilians working for BAE Systems. The pilot reported that he had not seen a parachute open. It is not known at what speed the aircraft was flying, but its maximum speed is 1,500mph.
After the accident, at 4pm, the pilot made an emergency radio call to report that the crewman, described by the RAF as a navigator, was missing before returning to base 30 miles away at RAF Marham in Norfolk. His shocked message was picked up by an amateur radio enthusiast.
Full story
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2873189.ece
A crewman was thrown from an RAF Tornado and killed after his ejector seat activated while the aircraft was flying upside down.
The Tornado was being given a test flight and both crew members were civilians working for BAE Systems. The pilot reported that he had not seen a parachute open. It is not known at what speed the aircraft was flying, but its maximum speed is 1,500mph.
After the accident, at 4pm, the pilot made an emergency radio call to report that the crewman, described by the RAF as a navigator, was missing before returning to base 30 miles away at RAF Marham in Norfolk. His shocked message was picked up by an amateur radio enthusiast.
Full story
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2873189.ece
