F-111 ejection pod

[rickair7777]

I was reading a book today that had a brief section about the F-111. It mentioned that it had an ejection pod that separated the whole cockpit from the aircraft and had airbags to cushion the landing and also kept it afloat in water. Did this system work very well and do any other aircraft have it aside from the shuttle? Also the book mentioned that the pilots didn't have to wear G-suits because of this pod, but I can't figure out why that would make a difference. Of course I don't know much about G-suits.

The space shuttle does not have, and never had, an ejection pod. It has a non-removeable pressure vessel to keep outer space out of the people tank.

The first shuttle flight was modified with the addition of two upward-firing ejection seats, one for each pilot. That flight was considered a test flight, and carried no other crew. The ejection seats were removed for subsequent missions, since it was not structurally feasible to install ejection seats in the other crew seat positions.

 

[Huggyu2]

Re the B-70 question above: I think the B-70 had the individual "clamshell" ejection pods.

As for the space shuttle ejection seats: again, I can't prove it, but I always thought the U-2/SR-71 seat was used in the shuttle for the first 4 missions, and then removed.

 

[tomgoodman]

Ejection systems

Re the B-70 question above: I think the B-70 had the individual "clamshell" ejection pods.

As for the space shuttle ejection seats: again, I can't prove it, but I always thought the U-2/SR-71 seat was used in the shuttle for the first 4 missions, and then removed.

Huggy,

Info from this website indicates you are correct:

http://www.ejectionsite.com.

 

[SLUF4]

Thanks, Rick;
I guess that's a misconception I got from somewhere about the space shuttle. I learn something new everyday.