One of the early pioneering companies of ejection seats before Martin Baker became the market leader, ML produced an ejection seat fitted to a few aircraft including some Wyvern prototypes.
I’m curious to know if anyone successfully used one of their ejection seats and survived, as apart from Hawker chief test pilot Trevor ‘Wimpey’ Wade who was killed whilst using one there seems to of been very few takers.
Also has anyone read the book on ML Aviation and the subsequent information given inside about this specific incident?
‘Perhaps, stemming from his early days with ML Aviation (Apprentice) and his subsequent ejection from a Meteor (RAF pilot), Author Graham Carter has attached particular significance to the ‘failure’ of a ML Aviation ejection seat that essentially put the Company out of the race with Martin-Baker. With access to documents at the National Archives and the East Suffolk Coroner’s Office, the Author reveals the real circumstances leading up to the death of the Hawker Chief Test Pilot (Squadron Leader ‘Wimpey’ Wade) when he ejected from the P1081’.
By: Wyvernfan - 28th April 2010 at 19:18
‘Perhaps, stemming from his early days with ML Aviation (Apprentice) and his subsequent ejection from a Meteor (RAF pilot), Author Graham Carter has attached particular significance to the ‘failure’ of a ML Aviation ejection seat that essentially put the Company out of the race with Martin-Baker. With access to documents at the National Archives and the East Suffolk Coroner’s Office, the Author reveals the real circumstances leading up to the death of the Hawker Chief Test Pilot (Squadron Leader ‘Wimpey’ Wade) when he ejected from the P1081’.
Tangmere,
The paragraph above was gleaned from google whilst i was looking for info on ML Aviation, and was not a statement of facts from me. It was purely added to hopefully jog someone’s memory about the company, the accident and its subsequent departure from ejection seat manufacture.
But thanks for the piece on his previous crash landing in a Spitfire, and it being so close to the fatal crash site. A sad coincidence indeed.!
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th April 2010 at 16:43
Wyvern Fan
“Wimpey” Wade was killed at Ringmer, near Lewes, in East Sussex. Therefore I think the Coroner’s reports referred to are those of East Sussex, not East Suffolk.
I drive past the site every week and used to live just down the road from there and it is an event still talked of in the village.
By coincidence, Wade survived a crash landing in his 92 Squadron Spitfire just a couple of miles away from where he eventually would lose his life. The Spitfire episode was during the Battle of Britain.
Just for what its worth…..!
By: pagen01 - 28th April 2010 at 16:29
I believe that Folland designed their own for the Gnat.
Not quite, it was based (though later developed) on a Saab type 2 seat (fitted to J-29, Lansen). Saab advocated ejection seats and techniques quite early on in its products.
For some reason I’m thinking that the Folland seat was fitted to another aircraft, but I can’t think what?
The Hawk was originally going to use Folland seats, but obviously went down the MB MK.10 route.
By: Wyvernfan - 28th April 2010 at 14:52
Yes i think thats it Roger.. Martin Baker, ML Aviation and of course Folland, although i think the latter was for fitting to inhouse products only.?!
By: RPSmith - 28th April 2010 at 14:41
If I may broaden your thread out a little – how many different British manufacturers of ejection seats were there?
I believe that Folland designed their own for the Gnat.
Roger Smith.
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April 27, 2010 at 8:52 pm