ACES II Pre-Planned Product Improvement (P3I) Program Update

Abstract

Ejection seats are inherently unstable during high and low speed ejections unless positive stabilization devices are incorporated. Today's expanded 103 to 245 pound aircrew size range further challenges seat stability. The USAF ACES II seat is by far the most stable ejection seat in the world under low speed conditions. The ACES II is stabilized at zero to low airspeed with the STAPAC rocket assembly, and is aerodynamically stabilized at high speed by the STAPAC and a 5.0 ft. hemisflo ribbon drogue parachute. The USAF developed the Enhanced Drogue System, as part of the US/Japan Cooperative Modification Project, which improves high-speed seat stability and reduces the aircrew injury risk. Goodrich, the seat OEM, and the USAF analyzed the Enhanced Drogue design under the ACES P3I Program and identified minor modifications that sled testing has shown further reduces the risk of injury without negatively impacting stability or terrain clearance.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA446673

Entities

People

  • Ben Sabo
  • Demetrius Stewart
  • Will Cromer

Organizations

  • Armstrong Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Aircrafts
  • Assembly
  • Clearances
  • Drogue Parachutes
  • Ejection
  • Ejection Seats
  • Escape Systems
  • Inflatable Structures
  • Optimization
  • Parachutes
  • Qualifications
  • Release Mechanisms
  • Seats
  • Sled Tests
  • Standards
  • Survival Equipment

Readers

  • Aerial Delivery - Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Explosive Engineering.