martin-baker aircraft co ltd evolution of mba crashworthy ......mba crashworthy seats - the...

SAFE Europe, Prague, April 2009M Hughes, Project Manager

Martin-Baker Aircraft Co Ltd

Evolution of MBA

Crashworthy Seating

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Export License

This technology is being exported under the Open General Export Licence (Technology for Military Goods)

Evolution of Crashworthy Seating

SAFE Europe 2009

NOTICES

MBA – Company Overview

Crashworthy Seats – History

Evolution of MBA Crashworthy Seats

MBA Specialist Crashworthy Seat Technologies


SAFE Europe 2009

AGENDA

MBA

Company founded in 1929

HQ based in Higher Denham, UK

Manufacturing locations in France, Italy

& USA

Worldwide support network

Over 60 years of experience in aircrew

protection

First life saved by ejection 1949

To date:

71,000+ ejection seats produced

7,274 aircrew lives saved

…. 10,000+ crashworthy seats produced


SAFE Europe 2009

MBA – Company Overview

1940-1960’s

Research into human physiological limitations

Col J Stapp, US Army

Investigated human tolerance to deceleration

Prior to these experiments assumed human resistance to deceleration was 18g

First rocket sled run 1947

70+ human trials by 1951

Demonstrated human body can withstand >32g

Stapp later demonstrated survival can be achieved up to 45g when properly restrained

Derived documents include

MIL-STD-1290(AV)

USARTL-TR-79-22D (1977)

Car industry crash test requirements

FAA civilian aircraft seat requirements

Ongoing release and investigation of civil and military seat requirements

i.e. FAA side facing seats


SAFE Europe 2009

Crashworthy Seating - Research

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rocket_sled_track.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:StappSled.jpg


SAFE Europe 2009

Crashworthy Seating – Test Types

Examples - Military Standards

MIL-S-85510(AS)

MIL-S-58095A(AV)

JSSG-2010-7 (Design Guide)

Examples - Civilian Standards

FAR23/25/29

ETSO/TSO C127a

ETSO C39b / TSO C39c

Flight Critical Tests

Static loads

Dynamic impact

Flammability

Other

Environmental tests

Test 1. Combined

Tests 3 & 4. AttenuationTest 2. Structural


SAFE Europe 2009


28g Dynamic Attenuation Test - Military

Test 1. Combined

Tests 3 & 4. AttenuationTest 2. Structural


SAFE Europe 2009


TSO C127a Structural Test (18.4g)

Test 1. Combined

Survival Solutions

Ejection Seat

Escape from aircraft during mission / flight

Relies on having time to eject

Crashworthy Seat

Remain with aircraft, relying on aircraft structural strength

Now a more realistic solution with increased aircraft cabin strength

Seats supplement the crashworthiness of the aircraft fuselage and landing gear

For high impact levels an attenuation system is integrated into the seat

Reduces spinal compression load

Reduces acceleration endured by occupant

Safely restrains the occupant during survivable impact

Designed to perform even with severe floor or bulkhead deformation

MBA select the worst case combination when testing


SAFE Europe 2009

Crashworthy Seating – Survival Solutions

Late 1960’s

Design patent filed for sideward firing ejection seat for Westland Wessex

Separate system required to remove blades

Risk to other aircraft / personnel in vicinity

High cost and weight penalty


SAFE Europe 2009

MBA – First Rotorcraft Project

Small number of rotorcraft are fitted with ejection seats

V22 Osprey demonstrator (MBA SJU-5 Mk10 seats)

Ka-50 / 52 Black Shark / Alligator

NASA RSRA X Wing technology demonstrator

Benefits

Escape during flight

Normally used where risk is greater than would normally be expected

i.e. flight demonstrators, extreme attack helicopters

Disadvantages

High mass

Purchase and maintenance cost

Not practical for transport craft

Require complex integrated sub-systems

Canopy fracturing / removal

Disposal of rotor blades

Systems require time to operate

Not principally designed to offer crash protection


SAFE Europe 2009

Rotorcraft Ejection Seats

http://www.martin-baker.co.uk/getdoc/bb25b50e-37c3-472b-8aeb-22d786d4364f/MK10L_popup.aspxhttp://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/ka50/

MBA Crashworthy seats - the beginning…

Mid 1980’s

Agusta request quotation for A129 Mangusta armoured ejection seat

Ejection seat solution not practical

MBA engineered armoured crashworthy crew seat to meet Agusta requirements

Based on ejection seat design principles

Ballistic armour protection

First generation attenuation system

Rod and die system

Energy absorbed by passing tube through machined die


SAFE Europe 2009

MBA Crashworthy Seats

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/agusta/

Second Generation Attenuation System

Fluted rod and die system

Increased level of control

Material cut rather than deformed

Used in

Tiger (PAH2) Armoured Crew Seat

Rooivalk Armoured Crew Seat


SAFE Europe 2009


1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Third Generation Attenuation System

Cutter and strip system

Evolution of third generation system

Developed to suit mass production

Uses include:

S92 Armoured Crew Seat

S92 Crew Seat

Rotating and Traversing Seat


SAFE Europe 2009


1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/S-92-00.jpg

Latest Generation Attenuation System

Tube and roller system

Increased adaptability

Designed with assistance of bespoke test fixture

Allowed for component level dynamic tests with excellent repeatability

Data fed back into design model for optimisation

Hard / soft start technology developed

System can be tuned to suit 5-95th occupant size for each seat model

No occupant adjustment required – reduced risk and training requirement

Suitable for civilian and military seats

No shear pin = simplified maintenance

Mechanism controls rebound

Lightweight components


SAFE Europe 2009


1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Latest Generation Attenuation System

Uses include

CH53E CATSS seat / Utility Seat

S92 / EC145 Passenger Seats

S92 Enhanced Comfort Crew Seat

UH60M Troop and Gunner seats

H92 MPACS

MFOS


SAFE Europe 2009


1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/9/8/0/0340089.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.airliners.net/photo/Italy%2520-%2520Air%2520Force/Agusta%2520AB-212AM/0340089/L&usg=__3aC_ZqZv9_YQpxHZVIZI-p0Vo9w=&h=443&w=640&sz=251&hl=en&start=19&um=1&tbnid=fM9vD8fK2hUPHM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dch53e%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.flyusarmy.com/images/UH60.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flyusarmy.com/uh60.htm&usg=__wJwaCdlaSTxDPOUdympVLqrU3VM=&h=176&w=265&sz=43&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=AlonQp6wgqw4BM:&tbnh=74&tbnw=112&prev=/images%3Fq%3Duh60m%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/images/AIR_EC-145_lg.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/and-eurocopter-makes-3-eads-to-compete-for-2b-us-luh-program-01080/&usg=__xM1BBzaxz9c575GhH6pOd5Ys_N4=&h=270&w=359&sz=23&hl=en&start=13&um=1&tbnid=iona2I_9bu-wQM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=121&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dec145%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theodoresworld.net/pics/0108/dustoff.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.theodoresworld.net/archives/2008/01/medevac_crews_dustoff.html&usg=__IB_p8K4T-fWW--HjvyxdscrGVog=&h=360&w=540&sz=20&hl=en&start=21&um=1&tbnid=WSozoVVPOhoE3M:&tbnh=88&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmedevac%2Buh60%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/s92-4.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga07-home/newsandpublications/press-releases.htm%3Fid%3DFFB502C21606C6FF%26m%3D10%26y%3D2007&usg=__hE1bAa0vaCq9PUcA1_v_drvMS9w=&h=427&w=640&sz=97&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=4HytwG-OHtQ95M:&tbnh=91&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ds92%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.enemyforces.com/helicopters/ch47_chinook.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.kaskus.us/showthread.php%3Ft%3D1032118&usg=__vZAg6QwWr8KtraXbUz1Jm8SKz-o=&h=365&w=550&sz=78&hl=en&start=9&um=1&tbnid=he-HNiUAF_gxIM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dch47%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.blogscanada.ca/egroup/content/binary/H92camo1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.blogscanada.ca/egroup/CommentView.aspx%3Fguid%3D6b3d6c09-643f-4d8c-84ad-561a3a2766bf&usg=__nTXu14UiJOXL-lk29Hlh2eRzORo=&h=228&w=400&sz=27&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=Yzcf_myHJMU1iM:&tbnh=71&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dh92%26hl%3Den%26um%3D1

Non-Attenuating / Fixed Wing Seats

Crashworthy

Generally non-attenuating

Lower specification requirements than rotorcraft

Single or double seat variants

Crew, mission and rest applications

Uses include

Nimrod

Jetstream 41

P-8A Poseidon

KingAir 350


SAFE Europe 2009


1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/p8a/images/K63510.jpg

Interface Kits for Retrofit….

MBA have developed and qualified installation kits for applications for which no crashworthy solution was previously available

CH47 crewmember

CH47 loadmaster

KingAir 350

Simple attachment, integrates directly with existing equipment

Allows for multi-mission capability

Design tailored to suit end-user requirements


SAFE Europe 2009

Specialist Solutions

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Armour Technology….

Fifth generation MBA armoured seat MPACS Safety of Flight qualified

Significant experience of armour types

Aluminium Oxide

Silicon Carbide

Boron Carbide

Type driven by cost / mass / performance buy-off

Current MPACS bucket defeats highest small-arms threat requirement

Bucket shape designed to suit customer requirement

MPACS bucket structurally qualified to MIL-S-58095A(AV) req’ts

250lb occupant

Static tests incl. combined Static Test, 25g fwd, 9g lat + down

28g structural dynamic test

46g combined and attenuation dynamic tests

Wing armour options


SAFE Europe 2009


Restraint Technology….

MBA strives to use modern restraint system solutions to maximise crashworthy safety

Adequate restraint is key to survival

Occupant motion must be minimised to reduce:

Body and head acceleration

Contact with aircraft interior components

Flailing injuries

MBA work closely in partnership with restraint system suppliers

Developing new solutions to satisfy end-user requirements

Recent developments

Low mass / high strength harness for H92 MPACS in partnership with Schroth Safety Products / BAE Systems

MA16 type inertia reel

Crew and gunner versions

MBA developed unique ATP fixture

New lead-in webbing strap developed

US Army AWR approved for Blackhawk

Full QPL programme in progress


SAFE Europe 2009



SAFE Europe 2009The Future

MBA will continue to innovate, evolve and developcrashworthy protection solutions

Goals

Increased occupant protection

Increased mission capability

Improved technical performance

60 Years of Saving Lives

martin-baker aircraft co ltd evolution of mba crashworthy ......mba crashworthy seats - the...

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