Maintainers

Our Services

MAINTAINING EJECTION SEATS AROUND THE WORLD

Maintainers from VMFA-211 Squadron

Read their stories

Martin-Baker has immense pride in the maintainers working on our seat around the world – due to their hard work, dedicated and skill in servicing our ejection seats, we can proudly say that over 7,715 lives have been saved.

Read their stories below or submit one of your own and receive a Martin-Baker Maintainers Coin as a token of our appreciation.

SUBMIT A STORY

Maintainers from VMFA-211 Squadron

CT Andre Petrie (Retd)

I joined the RAF in March 1986 as a weapons mechanic. I served for 33 years and finished as the Weapons & Crew Escape SME in the Typhoon Support Centre at RAF Coningsby. My first main interaction with ejection seats began in 1991 at RAF Wittering when I was posted to 1(F) Sqn it was during my time here that…

Chris Lyon

I joined the Royal Air Force, as a Boy Entrant, in January 1961 serving until March 1999, leaving as a Flight Sergeant. My first experience of an Ejection Seat was in the Javelin that was in our training Hangar. Following 18 months training, there followed a succession of postings over the next 38 years. The majority of which entailed working…

John Prictor

In my 33 years in the RAF I have been privileged to work on many fast jet aircraft weapons systems including the maintenance of the aircraft assisted escape systems. These aircraft included the Hunter T7 & T8, Buccaneer S2, Jaguar GR1, Harrier GR3 / T4, GR 7, 9, T10 and the faithful Tornado GR1 – 4A with assisted escape systems…

Ian Rose

I enjoyed four great years servicing Hawk, Hunter and Meteor ejection seats at RAF Brawdy in the 1980’s. Of all the postings I had, servicing ejection seats was the most enjoyable. It was made even more rewarding when a seat I serviced saved a life. As maintainers, we are so lucky to be able to play a small part in…

Richard Busby

I worked on the jaguars of 226 OCU at Lossiemouth, first line so fitting and removing Type 9b2 and 9b3 seats and associated fittings. The 9b3 I found easier with the headbox being removable for winching in and out on the scissor shackle. The unpleasant bit was being upside down to disconnect the static rods when someone had thrown up…

CT Andre Petrie (Retd)

I joined the RAF in March 1986 as a weapons mechanic. I served for 33 years and finished as the Weapons & Crew Escape SME in the Typhoon Support Centre at RAF Coningsby. My first main interaction with ejection seats began in 1991 at RAF Wittering when I was posted to 1(F) Sqn it was during my time here that…

Chris Lyon

I joined the Royal Air Force, as a Boy Entrant, in January 1961 serving until March 1999, leaving as a Flight Sergeant. My first experience of an Ejection Seat was in the Javelin that was in our training Hangar. Following 18 months training, there followed a succession of postings over the next 38 years. The majority of which entailed working…

John Prictor

In my 33 years in the RAF I have been privileged to work on many fast jet aircraft weapons systems including the maintenance of the aircraft assisted escape systems. These aircraft included the Hunter T7 & T8, Buccaneer S2, Jaguar GR1, Harrier GR3 / T4, GR 7, 9, T10 and the faithful Tornado GR1 – 4A with assisted escape systems…

Ian Rose

I enjoyed four great years servicing Hawk, Hunter and Meteor ejection seats at RAF Brawdy in the 1980’s. Of all the postings I had, servicing ejection seats was the most enjoyable. It was made even more rewarding when a seat I serviced saved a life. As maintainers, we are so lucky to be able to play a small part in…

Richard Busby

I worked on the jaguars of 226 OCU at Lossiemouth, first line so fitting and removing Type 9b2 and 9b3 seats and associated fittings. The 9b3 I found easier with the headbox being removable for winching in and out on the scissor shackle. The unpleasant bit was being upside down to disconnect the static rods when someone had thrown up…