Abstract: A catapult seat ejection system for ejecting a pilot and seat from an aircraft is disclosed in which the thrust of the catapult is controlled to prevent injury to the pilot due to acceleration forces. The catapult comprises a main catapult tube; a piston within the tube driven by gas pressure from the burning of two solid propellants cartridges; and four shuttle vent valves powered by gas from a plurality of electrically ignited squibs controlled by an electronic control system. The catapult is initially driven by only one of the two solid propellant cartridges and the electronic controller continuously monitors acceleration. If acceleration is too great the controller fires squibs with a control signal to open the shuttle vent valves to vent the gasses from the catapult and thereby reduce the pressure and acceleration of the seat. If the acceleration is too low and the vent valves are closed, and the sensor fires the second cartridge with a second control signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for adjustably mounting an ejection seat (16) in an aircraft in which outer catapult cylinders (58, 60) support inner catapult cylinders (62, 64) and supply force to the inner cylinders to eject the inner cylinders and the seat from the aircraft, the inner cylinders being connected to an upper rear end of the seat (66, 68). The seat (16) is supported in the aircraft by the inner and outer catapult cylinders (62, 64, 58, 60), by adjusting actuators (40) to raise and lower and to tilt the seat forwardly and rearwardly, by lower anchor links (30) pivotally connected to the aircraft and to lower end (26, 28) of the outer catapult cylinders and to the actuators (40), and by upper links (50). The seat is connected to the catapult cylinders (58, 60) by slipper blocks 82. The slipper blocks (82) are pivotally connected to the seat by pins (84) and are slidably engaged with the outer catapult cylinders.

Abstract: A reclining or semi-supine aircrew ejection seat is provided with an ejection gun that is in the usual upwardly extending and rearwardly inclined attitude, and the seat is attached to the portion of the gun assembly that leaves the aircraft by a pivotal connection between the back of the seat and the upper part of the gun assembly portion. This allows the part of the seat that supports the user's back to extend forward away from the pivotal connection and the gun assembly. During the initial phase of ejection, the seat turns angularly, bringing the part of the seat that supports the user's back against the gun assembly.