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T-38/F-5 Ejection Seat Trainer?


legalbeagle432
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legalbeagle432

Re-post from Introduction Thread:

 

Hey all, I'm new to USMF,
I was told by a friend that I may be able get some help from you all in identifying an old ejection seat that I have. I believe it is a Training Seat for a T-38/F-5. Any help or insight will be greatly appreciated. Here is a pic of the seat and the best shots I could get of the **serial numbers stamped on the back of the headrest. The pentagon shaped logo has the letters ”MPA" in it.
Thanks, and warm regards
-Florida Mike-

 

Continued:
Here are a few more pics and a link to a YouTube video showing the use of an Ejection Seat-Testing/Training Tower. Notice the notches going up the rails at the 4:09 mark in the video (pointed out in the screenshot below), notice as well the 4 "Catch Levers" on the bottom of my seat, (the lever on the top left is stuck). They move freely and would bounce over the notches on the way up and "Catch" in the notches at the apex of the upward travel, preventing the seat from coming back down, until as you will notice at the 3:44 mark in the video; the Technician raises the seat slightly, thus allowing the Rider to release the "Catch Levers" via a cable, (the remnants of which are still in the seat), at which time the Rider can be lowered back down.
This is all conjecture at this point, but I do believe that this seat is quite old and was most probably used on a tower very similar to the one in the video. Any thoughts or input as to my theory would be greatly appreciated. It's not necessarily for sale, but I would like to get an idea of its value, or lack thereof, if anybody knows of such things.

 

**I will re-post the serial number pics on this thread when my upload limit resets

 

Thanks, in advance for any input
-Florida Mike-

post-168021-0-14171800-1492941572.jpg

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post-168021-0-50536500-1492941599.jpg

post-168021-0-36826000-1492941607.png

post-168021-0-88587500-1492941615.jpg

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northcoastaero

Interesting ejection seat modification and application. In my opinion, the seat was probably an actual

flown seat that was later modified for training use. The condition looks to be solid, except for some worn

paint and missing parts. The foot rests were most likely added for the seat tower use.

 

http://www.ejectionsite.com/frame_sg.htm

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I dont think that is a seat trainer. Might have been a test seat or something modified for use in another aircraft or concept etc. Here is an actual egress trainer for the Northrop seat for sale:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTHENTIC-T-38-Talon-Trainer-EJECTION-SEAT-actual-MILITARY-version-to-PRACTICE-/152518078991?hash=item2382c9320f:g:EGIAAOSwZ1BXeGNR

 

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legalbeagle432

Re-post from Introduction Thread:

 

Hey all, I'm new to USMF,

I was told by a friend that I may be able get some help from you all in identifying an old ejection seat that I have. I believe it is a Training Seat for a T-38/F-5. Any help or insight will be greatly appreciated. Here is a pic of the seat and the best shots I could get of the **serial numbers stamped on the back of the headrest. The pentagon shaped logo has the letters ”MPA" in it.

Thanks, and warm regards

-Florida Mike-

 

Continued:

Here are a few more pics and a link to a YouTube video showing the use of an Ejection Seat-Testing/Training Tower. Notice the notches going up the rails at the 4:09 mark in the video (pointed out in the screenshot below), notice as well the 4 "Catch Levers" on the bottom of my seat, (the lever on the top left is stuck). They move freely and would bounce over the notches on the way up and "Catch" in the notches at the apex of the upward travel, preventing the seat from coming back down, until as you will notice at the 3:44 mark in the video; the Technician raises the seat slightly, thus allowing the Rider to release the "Catch Levers" via a cable, (the remnants of which are still in the seat), at which time the Rider can be lowered back down.

This is all conjecture at this point, but I do believe that this seat is quite old and was most probably used on a tower very similar to the one in the video. Any thoughts or input as to my theory would be greatly appreciated. It's not necessarily for sale, but I would like to get an idea of its value, or lack thereof, if anybody knows of such things.

 

**I will re-post the serial number pics on this thread when my upload limit resets

 

Thanks, in advance for any input

-Florida Mike-

 

Here are the best pics that I could get of the serial numbers from the back of the headrest. I think that they were cast into the aluminum rather than stamped.

thanks for the comments so far!

 

post-168021-0-67705700-1493021261_thumb.jpg

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post-168021-0-04718500-1493021264_thumb.jpg

post-168021-0-18314600-1493021265_thumb.jpg

post-168021-0-26571100-1493021266_thumb.jpg

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legalbeagle432

Thanks for the reply's and apologies for the redundant posts, still trying to learn and get used to posting in this format. Hoping more comments and insights will come, I've become somewhat obsessed with trying to figure out exactly where this seat came from and what it was used for.

 

Born in the Back Woods

Raised by a Bear

Had a double Bone Jaw

and an Rump Full of Hair

Had Cast Iron Balls

and a Blue Steel Rod

T.O.W. means Death by God!

CO B 2/ 174th INF (11H)

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