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AIR CREW LIFE SUPPORT
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Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
Aircrew Life Support / Personal Survival & Safety Equipment room including our collection of Martin-Baker Ejection Seats.
We have a growing collection of Martin-Baker Ejection seats and other personal survival & safety equipment.
A dedicated new room created by hangar volunteers, Donna Lappin and Mal Deeley during 2019~2022.
Also within the collection of Life support equipment are, life rafts from modern day jet aircraft, flying suits and protective flight clothing, life preservers (Mae West) and a complete Personal Survival Pack, PSP from our Canberra PR9 XH131 plane; Rescue equipment from the Irish Coast guard & Irish Air Corps.
We also have an extensive range of uniforms and protection clothing displayed on mannequins, plus clothing badges from the various collections.
Towards the end of the Second World War, emergency parachute escapes from military aircraft were becoming increasingly difficult and with the introduction of jet powered aircraft virtually eliminated the possibility of a successful over the wing bale-out
in 1944, James Martin (later Sir James Martin), Managing Director and chief designer of Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Ltd was invited by the then Ministry of Aircraft Production to investigate the practicability of providing fighter aircraft with a means of assisted escape for pilots, after his friend Capt Valentine Baker was killed during an MB3 test flight in 1942 during the Second World War because he couldn't escape from his aircraft.
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
Amongst our collection of aircraft is a unique display of Aircrew Life Support Equipment from the Second World War to the present day, include: Martin Baker ejections seats, which are tested here in Northern Ireland at the old USAF airbase at Langford Lodge (where the Ulster Aviation Society used to be).
Ejection Seats
History of Martin-Baker Ejection Seats
Image: MAL DEELEY
After investigating alternative schemes it soon became apparent that the most attractive means would be by forced ejection of the seat with the occupant still in it.
The ejector seat was born and today has saved over 7697+ aircrew lives, and is in use with over 75 air forces around the world.
Sir James Martin
Capt Valentine Baker
The Ejection Tie Club
Martin-Baker run an exclusive club that unifies all pilots whose lives we’ve helped save: life membership of the Ejection Tie Club is confined solely to those who have emergency ejected from an aircraft using a Martin-Baker ejection seat, which has thereby saved their life.
The primary objective of the Club is to provide a distinctive tie to be worn with civilian clothing which provides a visible sign of the members' common bond. Every Club member is given a certificate, membership card, patch, tie, pin or a brooch for the women. All Tie Club memorabilia depicts a red triangle warning sign, the recognised international danger symbol for an ejection seat.
The Ejection Tie Club was founded by Sir James Martin, and is now run by Andrew Martin, his grandson.
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
The Ulster Aviation Society's Gloster Meteor WA634 uniquely served as a testbed for Martin Baker's innovative ejection seat technology.
The integration of ejection seats into our Meteor T.7 in the mid-1950s marked a crucial milestone in enhancing pilot safety, ensuring their ability to safely eject from the aircraft in emergency situations.
Gloster Meteor WA634 used as Ejection Seat Test-bed
Image: ERWIN STAM