“On 16th April 1996, I was on a routine rocket firing training flight with a squadron mate on an Aermacchi MB339A jet trainer. Our target was a rocky outcrop Island in the South China Sea. During one of the firing passes, the aircraft suffered serious flight control surface failure resulting in a spiral dive at 2000 feet AMSL. Split second decision to eject was made and both of us were saved by our Mk-IT-10F seats. Thanks to Martin-Baker’s seat, we lived to tell our story. I was registered as the 4915th member of the Tie Club and my friend became the 4916th. We are proud (not by choice) to be part of an exclusive band of brothers whose lives were spared by seats with rocket packs.”
Tie Club