What We Do
US16T Ejection Seat
Designed for the supersonic T-38 Talon advanced trainers of the US Air Force and Air Education and Training Command (AETC).
US16T For T-38 Talon
11 lives saved using the US16T Ejection Seat
Over 800 US16T seats in service
In June 2005, Martin-Baker was selected to upgrade the escape system in the supersonic T-38 Talon advanced trainers of the US Air Force and Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The seat was designated the US16T.
This major project has improved pilot safety, increased accommodation and guaranteed ejection seat logistic to ensure that the Talon remains one of the best advanced training aircraft in the world. The seat offers a state-of-the-art, lifesaving performance, which interfaces with the existing canopy jettison system and the contents of the Personal Survival Pack (PSP) matches operator’s requirements to suit the aircraft role. The seat also offers maximum possible pilot size and weight range accommodation (without airframe changes), with a simple seat installation and reduced life cycle costs.
Operating ceiling | 50 000ft (15,250m) |
Minimum height/speed | Zero/zero in near level attitude |
Crew boarding mass range | 57.1 to 123.8kg |
Crew size range | JPATS multi-variate body size cases 1 to 6 |
Maximum Speed for ejection | 600 KIAS |
Parachute type | GQ Type 5000 |
Parachute deployment | Cartridge initiated |
Drogue parachute | Yes |
Drogue deployment | Cartridge initiated, tilt and deploy |
Harness type | Torso |
Ejection seat operation type | Ejection guns and underseat rocket motor |
Ejection gun | Twin |
Ejection initiation | Handle on seat bucket initiates gas-operated seat |
Automatic back-up unit | Yes |
Electronic sequencer | No |
Barostatic time-release unit | Yes + g-restrictor, cartridge initiated |
Timers | Time delay cartridges |
Seat adjustment | Up/down actuator operated 115 Vac, fore/aft manual backrest adjustment |
Arm restraints | No |
Leg restraints | Yes, four garters |
Oxygen supply | Bottled emergency oxygen |
Seat survival kit (SSK) | Yes + automatic deployment and liferaft inflation |
Aircrew services | Connection to main oxygen supply, mic/tel |
Command ejection | Yes |
Canopy jettison | Yes |
Miniature detonating cord | No |
Interseat Sequencing System (ISS) | Yes, via mode selecto |