Figure 5-1.-Forward ejection seat; (A) right-hand view, (B) left-hand view.
Ejection control handle safety pins and
safe/armed handles are provided to render
the ejection seats safe when the aircraft is
parked between flights and at all other
times on the ground. The ejection control
handle safety pins are removed by the
aircrew before flight and installed by the
plane captain after flight. Movement of the
safe/armed handle is the responsibility of
the aircrew.
Before entering the cockpit, personnel
should ensure that the correct safety
precautions have been applied.
The F/A-18 aircraft is equipped with a type
SJU-17(V)1/A ejection seat. The F/A-18D
aircraft is equipped with a type SJU-17(V)2/A and
a type SJU-17(V)1 /A ejection seat installed in the
forward and aft cockpits, respectively. The seats
are interconnected by a command sequencing
system. The two types of seat are essentially the
same, but with differences to suit the two cockpit
installations. For convenience, the description that
follows applies equally to both ejection seats,
except where noted. Where reference is made to
the aft seat configuration on the F/A-18D, the
description applies equally to the single seat
(F/A-18C) installation.
All NACES seats incorporate fully automatic
electronic sequencing and are cartridge operated
and rocket assisted. Safe escape is provided for
most combinations of aircraft altitude, speed,
attitude, and flight path within the envelope of
5-2
